SIMPSONVILLE CITY COMMISSION: Stop light at Todds Point to be installed this month
As major construction begins to wind down in the center of Simpsonville, residents can expect to see small projects begin throughout town, city officials announced during Thursday’s regular commission meeting.
One of the first projects residents will see is the addition of a new stoplight at the intersection of Todds Point Road and U.S. 60 by the end of the month.
Long considered a dangerous intersection, the city has worked with state officials to get the light, the first in downtown Simpsonville.
With the new light there will be a new traffic pattern with left turn lanes required by the state. The turn lanes will eliminate parking from the end of Huck’s up to the church according to City Administrator David Eaton.
“The stop light will help to control speed,” Mayor Steve Eden said. “In the past when somebody pops over the hill they just blast through, but it’s not going to be a straight shot anymore, they’re going to have to kind of maneuver through so hopefully people will slow down.”
The city was finally able to procure the light in part because of its downtown project that has added sidewalks and streetlights throughout the downtown portion of the city. Along with the streetscape, the city has also added parking along U.S. 60.
The sidewalk project, which was started in 2013, had saw the south side of U.S. 60 completed last year and the north side will be completed this summer.
The traffic light is the final piece, one city officials said they had been working on for some time.
The city has intentions to host a dedication ceremony once the light is installed, however no official plans have been made at this time according to Eaton.
New parking
The city commission also approved by unanimous vote to add parking around city hall and Simpsonville Park.
The parking project at Simpsonville Park will consist of adding a 70-foot by 20-foot lot that will hold 10 parking spaces coming directly off of Old Veechdale Road so people using the park won’t have to park in the grass and risk messing up the existing road, according to Bryan Romine, public works superintendent.
Romine added that parking at City Hall will be expanded next to the building, removing existing greenery, so that up to three officers will be able to park at once without interfering the flow of traffic.
Construction for parking will begin after the Fourth of July to prevent parking problems during the city’s annual Red, White and Boom and so the project falls within the 2016 Fiscal Year budget.
Other projects proposed by Romine and approved included minor road repairs throughout Simpsonville.
Also discussed at the meeting:
§ The city purchased a new snowplow that will also have a salt spreader. Hopes are that the truck will prevent complications if one of the older trucks breaks down.
§ The commission was told about the city’s new sewer jetter, which will help solve sewage blocking problems more quickly. Other equipment is being looked into with the recent addition of the outlet mall to the city sewer system.
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