Median causing controversy in Summerville area sparking multiple concerns

SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (WCSC) - Drivers along North Main Street in Summerville say a median is in such a torn-up shape it’s causing damages and even controversial debates.

This situation garnered ample attention from a Facebook post on the Berkeley County Growth and Development page and now regular commuters in that area are speaking up.

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Thomas Evans drives through the Nexton area often and noticed a median directly across from the Mexican restaurant SOL, split in three, almost like someone drove completely through it. Evans’s post instantly became a hit topic of discussion with multiple reactions and comments on Facebook surrounding the median.

Evans says one day the medians didn’t exist and the next day they appeared. He says you can barely differentiate the pavement from the medians. Evans says it’s crucial to make drivers aware of these changes before they happen. Whether through signage or adding reflective lights, these signals can be the difference between drivers avoiding frustration and preventing people from driving over medians because they have no warning.

“They just need to put up signage to say what’s happening,” Evans says. “You’ll be able to take right turns, you can’t take an unprotected left or anything anymore, and if you need to take a left you’re going to have to either turn around where we installed a new system, and you turn around at the arrow or you’d have to go to this light on the other side of the shopping center. You just got to let people know—that’s it.”

Beyond that, Evans says letting commuters know construction plans and making sure lights are set up with full-time arrows for drivers can make adequate U-Turns. Above all, he says making people aware is the main key.

“It’s our tax dollars being put down and getting destroyed,” Evans says. “From the first night, second night, to first week there’s a question of are they going to have to be redone? So, I think there’s a responsibility to spend a little bit more money and think about the process a little bit more and make a plan.”

A spokesperson for The South Carolina Department of Transportation released a response on these issues noting, “They are aware of the damage to the median and will work with their contractor to have it repaired.”

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