LEXINGTON, S.C. — Changes are coming to one troublesome intersection in Lexington County.
The Longs Pond Road and Barr Road intersection is just off Exit 51 on Interstate 20. The intersection also meets with Pisgah Church Road.
The area remains busy with traffic heading to the interstate and workers heading to and from the Michelin Plant.
Scott Sill, who works at the Calvary Chapel Thrift Store, says the intersection has been a pain to deal with it.
“It’s really frustrating, especially for my customers here. Just people trying to get and out of here in the morning is horrific,” said Sill.
Sill says the intersection sometimes is backed up well over a mile, going across the bridge over Interstate 20.
“I can’t even use that road,” explained Sill. “I just live minutes down the road there and it will take me twenty minutes to come down [Long Pond Road].”
Sill and other people in the community say they’d like to see a stoplight there because they find it confusing for drivers to know when it’s their turn to proceed through the intersection.
Street Squad Lexington reached out to the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) to find out if there are any changes to come to the area.
According to Jason Fulmer, resident construction engineer with the SCDOT, the department is currently working on a project that would construct left turn lanes and add a stoplight.
Sill says it's a relief this new project will be completed near his work.
“Oh my goodness, it’s going to be a great day when they finally get the light in there. I think the traffic is going to move a little bit more fluently. That’s a no brainer,” said Sill.
SCDOT doesn’t have a projected date as to when the intersection will be completed, but it says it will happen soon.
The department is currently under contract for construction and is waiting to get access to the areas it needs to start making the improvements.
For a look at the project, you can find some details on SCDOT's Programmed Project Viewer.
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