Irmo Takes Big Steps to Improve Broad River Road Safety!
IRMO, S.C. — Big news is buzzing around Irmo tonight! The town is finally getting serious about making Broad River Road safer. This exciting step comes after the local council members gathered on Tuesday night and gave the green light for the sale of around 0.3 acres on Broad River Road to Richland County.
Irmo Mayor, Bill Danielson, couldn’t contain his enthusiasm as he expressed, “It’s been a long time, so people are eager for it to happen.” For years now, residents have been discussing plans to widen Broad River Road from its current two lanes to an impressive five lanes. The council’s decision last night is a major leap towards making that dream a reality!
Property Sale Brings Cash for the Town
Danielson explained that the land recently sold was actually donated about 15 months ago, and the town was uncertain about its future use. “We knew Broad River was going to be widened, and now it’s all coming together. They needed that property to make it happen,” he added with a smile. The council voted unanimously for both the first and second reading to approve the sale, and as Danielson gleefully pointed out, “We just made $80,000 so we’ll take that!” With minimal closing costs of about $4,000 to $5,000, it’s a win-win situation for Irmo!
County Partnership Sets the Stage for Progress
This thrilling partnership between the town and Richland County has been in the works for the last three to four months. According to Danielson, this is just the beginning of an exciting transformation for the busy thoroughfare. Recent updates from the county reveal that additional traffic features will be added to enhance safety and reduce accidents. “It’s going to be turned into a pretty wide thoroughfare, and they’re putting lights in,” he said.
In fact, traffic lights will be installed at key intersections, including where Royal Tower meets Broad River and a newer light will be added up the road where Farming Creek intersects. This means safer travels for everyone in the area!
Local Businesses Share Their Excitement!
Local business owners along Broad River Road are also singing praises about the project. Ben Umberger, the owner of Carolina Conservation, expressed his joy in a heartfelt statement that was sent to us. He mentioned, “We have been hopeful about this project becoming a reality for several years. Navigating in and out of this intersection is a nightmare more times than not. We witness accidents and near misses with pedestrians on a regular basis.”
Umberger went on to clarify that the additional lanes and traffic lights would significantly enhance both the safety of travelers and the accessibility for nearby businesses along Broad River Road. Just imagine the positive impact this change will create for everyone!
What’s Next for Broad River Road?
With the property sale now approved, Mayor Danielson suggests that work should kick off very soon. The first order of business? Relocating telephone poles to pave the way for progress. It’s all hands on deck as the town gears up for this exciting development.
As the community rallies together, there’s a collective sense of anticipation for the coming changes. With plans for improved safety features and streamlined traffic flow, residents of Irmo can look forward to a smoother and safer journey on Broad River Road. Stay tuned for more updates—it sounds like a bright future lies ahead!
