DOT asks Charleston residents about I-526

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — The state Department of Transportation is asking Charleston County residents whether they favor completing Interstate 526 through Charleston’s western suburbs.

The Post and Courier of Charleston reports that (http://bit.ly/MPOsfj ) while the county has control of the project to finish the Interstate, officials voted to turn it over to the state earlier this year. DOT has not yet agreed to take on the project. It’s expected to cost $556 million to complete the highway across Johns and James islands.

Elected officials have said that before the state would take over the road, DOT needed to know if there was money and public support for the work.

Supporters say the project will ease traffic congestion, but opponents say it will lead to more urban sprawl.

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Information from: The Post and Courier, http://www.postandcourier.com