Charleston Co. Council votes down I-526 referendum

CHARLESTON COUNTY, SC (WCSC) - Charleston County Council members have voted not to put a referendum on the completion of Interstate 526 on the November ballot.

"Well it was a 7 to 2 vote not to put it in the referendum," said Charleston County Council Chairman Teddie Pryor. "As I've always stated, the voters in 2004 and 1972 gave approval to completing and building the Mark Clark. And so to put a non binding question on a referendum, to me, it just didn't make sense."

If council members had approved the referendum for the November ballot, voters would have been able to weigh in on whether the project should be completed, connecting West Ashley, Johns Island, and James Island.

Supporters say expanding the expressway will help with traffic, but detractors are worried about the rise of urban growth.

"SCDOT has this project in hand," Pryor said."When they come back with a recommendation, this process will either move forward or stop in its tracks."

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