This may be the most important meeting on I-526 yet. It’s an open affair to let the public voice their concerns and feelings about the expansion of the interstate onto Johns and James Islands.

Here’s the info

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In association with Federal Highways Administration (FHWA), Charleston County and the SIB, the SCDOT will develop the EIS, a process that will include looking at roadway alternatives and comparing the impacts on both the natural environment and local communities. Due to the significant roles that state and federal resource and regulatory agencies play, the project team will work closely with them in completing the environmental review process. Additional efforts will be focused on public involvement and communication to ensure the successful development of the environmental process.

A Public Scoping Meeting will be held on April 10, 2008 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
This is an open-house meeting that will be held a Murray-LaSaine Elementary School located at 691 Riverland Drive on James Island.
The purpose of this meeting is to:
Introduce the project to the public
Gather initial comments from the public
Identify the needs for the project
Identify concerns the public may have about the project or its impact to the human and natural environment
The public is encouraged to attend in order to meet the project team and provide input into this important project.

How can I comment on the project?
Comments will be accepted from the public during a public scoping meeting held at the beginning of the project with a 15-day comment period following. The Public Scoping meeting is scheduled for April 10th (6:00p.m.-8:00p.m.) at the Murray-LaSaine Elementary School, 691 Riverland Drive, Charleston.
Informal Public information meetings will be held periodically throughout the length of the project. These meetings will be advertised in newspapers and mail notifications. After each meeting there will be a 15-day comment period on the project.

Formal Public Hearings will be held upon completion of the Draft EIS and Final EIS. There will be a 45-day comment period, at the time of the public hearings, during which the public may submit comments to SCDOT and FHWA concerning the Draft EIS.
Use the contact form (http://www.scdot.org/i526/default.shtml#comment) to request information about the project.
Hotline: 1-888-MCE-I526
The project hotline will include a recorded message that will provide information on upcoming project events, a brief project status and other contact information. When you call, you may leave a project-related message that will be incorporated into the project file.

More details from SCDOT here. 

Environmentalist are urging SCDOT and FHWA to consider alternatives proposed by Glatting Jackson to the interstate. Check out those ideas here.

Whatever your opinion on the extension, it’ll change Charleston forever. No more biking or running on the Connector. It’ll mean more dense development on Johns Island, James Island, and farther south on Highway 17. And after all that comes, studies show it may make traffic worse than it is now.