New businesses and residential developments are expected to crop up as the final pieces of the Palmetto Parkway fall into place this year.
The parkway could open two months earlier than the Dec. 31 deadline.
Project manager Alan Wertz, of U.S. Constructors, shared the early progress with more than 30 members of the Greater North Augusta Chamber of Commerce as they toured the new section June 19.
The six-mile stretch from U.S. Highway 1 to I-20 at Exit 5 includes four new interchanges, a new connector road to U.S. Highway 25 and the realignment of 10 existing roads, Wertz said.
The project opens thousands of acres to potential development, said Skip Grkovic, director of economic and community development for North Augusta. And the earlier opening could mean businesses moving in sooner.
The greatest potential for development is at the Exit 5 interchange, but nothing specific is planned, said Grkovic.
Grkovic expects much of the development to be "regional-commercial."
"One of the things the city would like to get is industrial businesses," he said.
The project will also move industrial traffic off the main arteries, including U.S. Highway 25. Grkovic said trucks account for about 15 percent of the traffic on Knox Avenue.
Moving that traffic, however, should not negatively affect businesses in the heart of the city, Grkovic said.
Grkovic said the city is aware of the potential that more development around the parkway could create a "North North Augusta" and a "South North Augusta." He said the city has planned to maintain a balance between the two areas.
One example includes keeping major shopping, like grocery and chain stores, centrally located on Knox Avenue and Martintown Road.
Chamber President Brian Tucker organized the tour after several members expressed a curiosity about the project.
He said in addition to the creation of new development, he believes the parkway will help create the feeling that this area is one area.
"We're not just North Augusta. We're not just Augusta," he said.
Projects of the Palmetto Parkway include the widening of U.S. Highway 25 at I-20 and the widening of Belvedere-Clearwater Road from the interchange to U.S. 25.
It does not include widening the road from the interchange to U.S. 1, which could become a problem the city will soon have to solve, Grkovic said.
"I expect a lot of folks from Clearwater to access I-20 through this interchange," Grkovic said.
The project also includes a five-mile stretch of the Greeneway from Atomic to Ascauga Lake roads.
Plans are in place to connect the new section of Greeneway to the existing multi-use trail.
"We were fortunate to get the Greeneway (as part of the project)," Grkovic said. "To my knowledge we're the first in the country to do that."
Reach Lisa Kaylor lisa.kaylor@northaugustatoday.com.
PALMETTO PARKWAY INTERCHANGES
At U.S. Hwy 1, Exit 17: Interchanges will be in a diamond pattern, with a direct exit or entrance ramp for each direction. A loop will allow access from U.S. Hwy 1 to I-520 south.
At Belvedere-Clearwater Road, Exit 21: Exits will be a diamond pattern. Belvedere-Clearwater road will eventually be widened to four lanes from the interchange to U.S. Hwy 25. The mile and a half between the interchange and U.S. Hwy 1 will remain two lanes. "That's going to be a significant problem that will need to be addressed in the future," said Skip Grkovic, director of economic and community development for North Augusta.
At Exit 22: A connector road was created south of Ascauga Lake Road to provide access to U.S. Hwy 25.
At I-20: Exits were rebuilt to allow drivers to merge from Palmetto Parkway without stopping. The section of U.S. Hwy 25 was widened from the connector road to the area in front of Food Lion north of I-20.
Source: Alan Wertz, Palmetto Parkway project manager
