Leaders frown on road expansion
North Belair plan viewed as unworkable
There's finally some consensus among local leaders about the future expansion of North Belair Road - there shouldn't be one.
Officials had been waiting for the results of a consultant's study of possible routes before moving ahead with an expansion project aimed at alleviating traffic congestion in the area. But those results - which have been just a few weeks away for nearly a year - may never come.
"They are not going to start pushing again unless we start pushing this project again," said state Rep. Ben Harbin, R-Martinez.
That's welcome news to incoming County Commission Chairman Ron Cross.
"We need to leave North Belair alone until we can arrive at a better solution," he said.
Under previous plans, officials had three options. Each route starts by following Industrial Park Drive. One option cuts across undeveloped property to North Belair Road, and the other two use Industrial Park Drive.
Residents of the area prefer either Industrial Park Drive route. The North Belair Road route, they say, intrudes too much on residential areas. But supporters of the North Belair route say either Industrial Park Drive route would be too expensive.
If completed, the road expansion would complete a four-lane connector from Furys Ferry Road to Fort Gordon.
Instead of North Belair Road work, officials would rather focus road money on Washington Road in front of Publix.
"There is a safety hazard there that we have to address," Harbin said.