Residents of Marsh View Commons on Johns Island, SC, are experiencing significant traffic disruptions due to the commencement of a major Highway 17 flyover construction project. The issue stems from large delivery trucks blocking the main neighborhood exit, causing safety concerns and commuter delays.
Jennifer Greenwell, a Board Member at the Marsh View Commons HOA, describes traffic issues.
“Absolutely awful,” stated Jennifer Greenwell, a Board Member at the Marsh View Commons Homeowners Association (HOA), encapsulating the sentiment of many residents. Since the construction site for the Highway 17 flyover project became operational, traffic around Main Road has become a major headache. The primary problem arises from 18-wheeler trucks delivering construction materials. For three consecutive mornings during peak traffic hours, these large rigs occupied the middle turn lane on Main Road, effectively obstructing the left turn exit for Marsh View Commons residents.
Greenwell emphasized the existing challenges at the intersection, stating, “It’s challenging anyway, at this intersection, and then with having the trucks in the median the turn lane, it’s been a huge complication.” The unexpected blockage exacerbated an already complex traffic situation.
Todd Frech, HOA President, detailed the immediate impact on the community. For three days, the traffic obstruction caused significant delays, with residents being late for work and school. The community’s single exit and entrance road transformed into a standstill. “This is our only exit and entrance, and people couldn’t get out. And to kind of compound that, there are six school busses that come through the area, so the trucks were in the center lane. People couldn’t get out,” Frech explained, highlighting the widespread disruption.
Recognizing the severity of the issue, Frech proactively contacted city and county officials to seek immediate solutions. Initially concerned about bureaucratic delays, Frech persisted and clearly articulated the community’s needs. His primary demand was for a police presence or traffic flaggers to manage the truck congestion, aiming to expedite the movement of delivery vehicles that were causing hours-long traffic jams.
“So we’re not anti-main road construction. We just want to make sure that we’re safe and that our children are safe, and that people can get to work on time,” Frech clarified, emphasizing that residents are not against the infrastructure project itself, but rather concerned about safety and accessibility during construction.
Following persistent outreach from multiple HOA board members over three days, city officials responded positively. They informed Frech that they had requested the construction company to implement traffic control measures. On Wednesday, this intervention became visible as personnel on-site began using “slow and stop” traffic signs to direct trucks into the construction site. This action significantly reduced the time trucks spent blocking the middle lane, offering a tangible improvement.
Greenwell acknowledged the positive change, stating, “It does feel promising. We’ll see if it’s consistent. I’m hoping that it continues to happen every day that they work to clear up the chaos and the mess that is necessary, but it’s causing a lot of confusion for us.” While optimistic, residents remain cautiously hopeful about the long-term consistency of these traffic management efforts.
Looking ahead, both Greenwell and Frech hope that the implemented traffic direction is just the beginning of sustained measures to ensure safer deliveries and prevent trucks from obstructing Main Road completely. They are aware that the Highway 17 flyover project is a multi-year undertaking and anticipate ongoing material deliveries throughout its various phases.
Frech concluded with a forward-looking perspective: “We know that in these long-term projects, people are going to cycle in on the project and cycle out. So today, they seem to have gotten the message, you can’t block Main Road. Will that be the case in a month? We’re going to see but we’re going to stay on top of this to make sure our kids are safe and our residents can get in and out of our community.” The residents of Marsh View Commons remain vigilant and committed to ensuring the safety and accessibility of their community throughout the duration of the Johns Island Sc construction project.
