COLUMBIA, S.C. — The Town of Irmo is collaborating with the Central Midlands Council of Governments (COG), Central Midlands Transit (The COMET), and the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) on a project called "Links to Lake Murray."
The initiative aims to address traffic and safety concerns on North Lake Drive and Lake Murray Boulevard. Town officials and project leaders are seeking input from residents and commuters who frequent the area.
“I live here too, and the corner of Lake Murray and San Andreas is a rough intersection with a lot of incidents,” said Doug Polen, Irmo’s assistant town administrator. “If you’ve ever been up there at rush hour, you know you can be waiting a very long time to get to your home.”
The town hopes the Links to Lake Murray project will improve traffic flow and enhance safety measures. One proposed solution includes widening Highway 6 to three lanes, with two travel lanes and a center turning lane.
“I think the ultimate idea, long term, would be to widen Highway 6,” Polen said.
The town and COG are encouraging public input before establishing a cost and timeline. They’ve launched an online survey and an interactive map where residents can share their ideas and feedback.
“This is the opportunity to make that road wider, maybe to put sidewalks on it, maybe to put more or fewer traffic signals on it,” Polen explained. “Opportunities like this are really the beginning of creating that better roadway that people have been wanting for a long time.”
Polen urges residents to participate in the survey and contribute to the map. “Let us know what it is that you think would make this place better,” he said. “Then they can collate all that information, use their professional knowledge, and hopefully come up with a really good plan for Highway 6 and for Lake Murray Boulevard.”
In addition to the online tools, the town will hold a public input drop-in session on Jan. 21, giving residents another chance to voice their concerns and suggestions.