You may remember about a year ago when I canvassed Marina Road and Johnson Marina Road to get input on safety improvements that were coming to our area. While I was told by DOT and county officials that “no Rep or Senator ever does that. We just do our thing and then move forward”, this is something I always do – get your input on issue that impact you and your family.
Based on feedback, original designs were tweaked and modified throughout the past several months for both projects. And now, after surveying has been done, engineers reviewed, utilities/easements considered, etc….(all the things involved), two options are available. If you live on or off Marina Road, please go visit the website. Let me know any questions you have or you can submit those directly to SCDOT through the website.
Marina Road – Sidewalk Project
I also asked SDCOT to send postcards out to everyone as well! Again, always wanting to give everyone a chance to know what’s going on.
If this is your first visit to NathansNews , I hope you’ll check back often.
If you currently do not receive my regular monnthly COMMUNITY UPDATE email, please let me know by emailing NathanBallentine@schouse.gov and ask me to add you to the distribution list. That way you can stay informed with what’s going on in Columbia AND around our community!
If I understand this, the sidewalk goes down the west side of Marina Road up to Dutch Fork Road. Anyone walking up to Dutch Fork Road would turn right, towards the Food Lion shopping center, since there is nothing to the left. Given the traffic situation at Marina Road and Dutch Fork, having pedestrians cross Marina Road at Dutch Fork Road will create a significant safety issue. Why is the sidewalk not on the east side of Marina? It would also create less disruption to existing homes, landscaping, etc.
Gene, the engineers put this together. I’m not an engineer but I see lots of telephone poles, utilities, etc on the side of the road you suggest. One of the options they propose I believe impacts maybe 3 homeowners.
Nathan, I think I am one of the 3 homeowners, so I may be as quick to dismiss the impact. Telephone poles are no problem, and the only utility I see is a smail power substations. If it was built in the state right of way, it would be incumbent on the utility to move them to accommodate a sidewalk. Going around would be no problem. Having said that, my question is, why is it more important to avoid inconvenience utilities than residents?
Had the DOT held the hearings on the sidewalk they promised us in 2023, these issues could have been resolved BEFORE the design was finalized.
… may NOT be as quick to dismiss …
Is there any info about the Johnson Marina Rd sidewalk project?
Thanks for looking out for us
DOT is further along on the Marina Road sidewalks (public input continues for two more weeks). Won’t see any ground being moved til Spring 2026 though. Johnson Marina would be Summer 2026. Hopefully DOT will have options for us to see in the next 60 days so we can give input. Thanks for checking in and staying informed! I’ll keep you posted as I learn more.
Thanks.
From the voice of the residents who live on Marina road no one is in favor of this wasteful project.. This money could be used on more important road projects. This is the pork barrel wastefulness of the penny tax that we tax payers are against . Nathan you say you have no voice in this project but it seems like there is an underlying motive to this project . You and Jay Kilmartin are suppose to me the voice of the people . The voice of the people sounds like they do not want millions wasted on a side walk that is not needed. Do the right thing and stop this.
Like everything in life, rarely (if ever), is there going to be 100% agreement. There are several people in favor of the project, some people that are indifferent, and yes – several that are against it for various reasons.
Please know, the project is NOT funded from the penny tax. The only projects the penny tax slated for our community was the roundabout on Kennerly (completed years ago) and the much and long awaited widening of Broad River Road (I’ve been told we will see construction begin February 2025).
When I first learned years ago that the Country Transportation Committee set aside funds for sidewalks for Marina and Johnson Marina Roads (the 2 marinas in our area), I was shocked. As you know, we often are overlooked out here by Richland County. Safety is important to me and many others in our community. I have heard from several – including just this week – that they are grateful this sidewalk is coming.
Years ago, projects like these would always go to other parts of the county. Your/our tax dollars were funding safety (and other projects) in other parts of the county instead of ours.
I don’t have a vote on the CTC but I do support any safety measures for our community. Sidewalks, turn signals, stop signs, pothole repairs, road resurfacings, etc. All of that is helpful and I appreciate the agencies that help us with those.
Some have told me sidewalks will bring homeless people and crime to the road (and I saw the anonymous flyer someone distributed saying this). Please know that I checked with the Sheriff and other law enforcement and was told there is no correlation to that, at all.