2 weeks Ago
Aiken's long awaited Powderhouse Connector could soon begin to become reality. The Aiken City Council is expected to consider the first reading of an ordinance Monday to annex city-owned property upon which the first phase of the road would be built. The Powderhouse Connector — so named because it would connect Powderhouse and Whiskey roads — was first proposed in 2006, City Manager Stuart Bedenbaugh said in a memorandum provided to the council ahead of Monday's meeting .
Nearly 15,000 votes have already been cast in Aiken County Specifically, the road would connect to Powderhouse near its intersection with Old Powderhouse Road . And it would connect with Whiskey Road across from East Gate Drive . If the Aiken City Council votes to approve annexation Monday and Nov.
12, the city would then begin to solicit bids to build the first phase of the roadway, Bedenbaugh continued. The city plans to divide construction of the Powderhouse Connector into two phases. 'But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit:' Pauper burial held for Aiken County residents First, a road — the South Centennial Avenue Connector — would be built to connect Whiskey Road and South Centennial Avenue.
And, second, the new road would be connected to Powderhouse Road by the Powderhouse Connector. Once built the connector "will provide an alternative route for motor vehicle traffic traveling from the Southside over to East Pine Log Road while allowing motorists to bypass one of the busiest areas of our city," Bedenbaugh wrote. A 2022 traffic study indicated Whiskey Road was 17% over its capacity immediately north of the East Gate Drive intersection.
'But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit:' Pauper burial held for Aiken County residents Midland Valley football wins three straight with commanding win over South Aiken on Saturday North Augusta woman dies in Friday single-vehicle wreck Local employers to attend job fair, hosted by Aiken Technical College on Oct. 29 From horses to hardwood: Senior women's basketball team calls Aiken home Robotics to recycling: USC Aiken encourages kids to dive into science Early voting begins in Aiken County with long lines at the Aiken County Government Center Nico Echavarria eagles the final hole for a 2-shot lead at the Zozo Championship Nearly 15,000 votes have already been cast in Aiken County No. 7 North Augusta remains unbeaten in region play with midweek romp over Aiken An often-referenced study from years ago projects the connector will reduce traffic on Whiskey Road by 24% even including the expected development of properties along both phases of the connector.
The city plans to fund both phases of the connector with local, state and federal funds. Specifically, the city received $8 million from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, $21.3 million from the State Infrastructure Bank, $7.
6 million from Aiken County's fourth Capital Project Sales Tax and $621,000 from the Aiken County Transportation Committee . The city will also use $500,000 of its own money. Once the project has been bid and a contractor selected, construction of the first phase is expected to take 18-24 months and the second phase five or six years.
Monday's city council meeting will take place at 7 p.m. on the third floor of the Municipal Building at 111 Chesterfield St.
S.W . Also on the agenda is the second reading of an ordinance approving a budget adjustment to allocate $1.
49 million American Rescue Plan Act funds to upgrade a water line along the South Centennial Avenue Connector . The agenda also includes the first readings of ordinances amending the city budget to receive a mosquito abatement grant and to account for a development agreement for Union Street Station and the annexation of single-family homes at 3512 Augustus Road and 900 Shadow Drive. There are resolutions on the agenda approving the provision of water services to a housing development on Wire Road and a Dollar General on the Columbia Highway (U.
S. Route 1) . There are also proclamations naming November as American Indian Heritage Month and recognizing the work of the Aiken Council of Garden Clubs in maintaining the Doll House at Hopelands Gardens.
Before the meeting, the city council is expected to hold a worksession at 5 p.m. to discuss a stabilization project in Woodside and the city's trees.
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