Kennerly Road / Coogler Road Intersection
October 23, 2008
When it comes to letters and calls from the community (relating to our roads) it’s THIS intersection that I hear about the most! Today I took the picture above but I could’ve posted photos from various accidents over the past year, or the large number of cars in the morning/afternoon for school drop-off/pick-up, etc.
Instead just a normal photo from the Coogler Road side.
If you’re not familiar with this location, you might not be able to notice there’s a curve (blind?) right before the intersection. Inevitably someone pulling out doesn’t see the traffic coming or they either underestimate the speed at which the cars are traveling. The result? Not good. A couple of accidents and many, many near-misses.
Since I’ve been elected, we’ve seen many road improvements in our community . I’ve been pleased with the Department of Transportation and their attention to our needs and I again say “thank you” to the Department and Thad Brunson (Administrator, SCDOT Engineering District 1) in particular.
At this intersection, Senator Courson and I have pushed for (and received) improvements with SEVERAL signs placed as you approach the intersection in either location. The intent is to draw people’s attention to the dangerous conditions. These signs include the usual warning signs as well as another set of flashing signals that were installed. We’ve also worked with Richland County Sheriff’s Department and had patrols monitor for speeders. Still, it appears accidents and congestion continue to happen.
So what’s next?
Serving on a few of the committees I have, I’ve learned that roads and signals cost money - LOTS of money! Being in state government, I’ve also seen how we have yet to improve funding for our infrastructure and, of course, I know how money is just not there for the improvements we need (for the state as a whole). Richland County Council even considered a sales-tax dedicated specifically for roads but that proposal was defeated.
To get the money, there’s two things that can happen at the state level. The gax tax can go up. (Note: No, thank you!) or we can dedicate money in the budget specifically for roads. The latter is exactly what the House tried to do last year when we passed a bill to take the sales tax on cars and dedicate that to road improvements. Unfortunately, the bill didn’t get out of the Senate.
To talk more specifically about this intersection….the cost just to put in turn lanes needed for a traffic signal runs roughly $900,000.
I’ve even thought about a traffic-circle (as others have thought, as well). We run into the same thing though…costs. Still runs about $900,000 PLUS the SCDOT has to get right-of-way from the property owners at the corners because more space is needed when you do a traffic-circle.
The cheapest way to help would be a Four-Way Stop put at the intersection. That is currently what we are pursuing but I’m not sure what the SCDOT traffic studies will tell us. While my gut and my eyes tell me we have to do more, the intersection still doesn’t meet the criteria for a traffic signal, traffic cirlce, or four-way stop.
Stay tuned for more details within the next two weeks…
Comments
5 Responses to “Kennerly Road / Coogler Road Intersection”
Got something to say?
Nathan - We appreciate your attention to this dangerous intersection at Kennerly and Coogler. Many years ago during a meeting of the Ascot HOA Board, your predecessor generally made the follow statement … I fear someone might be killed at this intersection before meaningful action is taken… Thanks, Chuck
As a constant complainer regarding traffic and road conditions, this particular intersection is of personal interest. Several weeks ago, I drove through there after a serious accident had occurred and I was wondering why nothing more had been done. Just how many deaths and injuries are required before our DOT considers the intersection “worthy” of two more stop signs?
I’m even more concerned about the intersection of Broad River Road and Shady Grove Road. Two lane roads and no traffic light as the new Wal-Mart is rapidly being constructed. Maybe we can wipe out a dozen or so Dutch Fork High School students in order to convince someone that highway improvement are needed! On second thought, my daughter starts DFHS next year. We just won’t let her get into a car with a teen driver. Right…..
We just have to love a state government that cares so much about it’s residents.
I never thought much about this intersection until I moved into Ascot in February. Now it is the most dangerous intersection I encounter. And the solution is so simple…bring the speed limit back up to 45 and make it a 4-way-stop intersection. Talk about uneven traffic flow is bogus. What makes sense is that all vehicles stop before proceeding. Speed through the intersection will be about 10 mph, first in is first out, and overall traffic flow does not change.
I work in Seneca, and where I stay up there is near a similar intersection that recently converted to 4-way-stop. It is the intersection of Hwy 188 and Ebenezer/Biggerstaff. Very similar to Kennerly and Coogler/Steeple Ridge, except the one at Kennerly is in a blind curve, where 188 is not. Anyway, Hwy 188 has a speed limit of 55 mph at this point and is a major road with a lot of traffic. Ebenezer and Biggerstaff are small rural paths to home with speed limits of 35 and 45 mph.
I experienced (and still do almost every day) the transition from 2-way to 4-way. The feeling of safety and orderliness cannot be overstated. Moving onto or off of the smaller roads is quicker, safer, and much less frustrating. Travelling on the major road simply involves a brief stop.
I hope we can get our intersection converted to 4-way-stop, not just for my safety, but for my wife’s and kids’. And for yours.
Please! Consider that people do not follow the speed limit and come flying around the blind spot from the school side of Kennerly! You simple cannot see from sitting inside of Ascots entrance and we have had to make several start-stops when others are speeding. It is a very unsafe intersection and I am always fearful of someone being hurt here. We have seen terrible accidents here, and I hope it does not take any more to get this resolved. Thankyou for all your help! Sincerely, Robyn and Doug Webb Also, It may help with morning traffic coming out of Ascot for people trying to get to work or school.
Nathan:
Thank you very much for the leadership that you bring to our district. I agree with the other posts that this intersection is a danger and also do not relish a trafffic signal from both a cost and asthetic point. When my daughter began driving last year both with and without me in the car, I had her use the other Kennerly road entrance to our neighborhood to avoid this extrememely dangerous intersection. However, that action does not solve the problem. I wholeheartedly support a four-way stop here from both a safety and economic standpoint. Please let us know what we can do to see this accomplished.
Kimberly von Schweinitz