Huger Street Streetscape

Meeting Street to Morrison Drive

Project Description

The Huger Streetscape project is the final piece of the Mitigation Agreement intended to offset impacts from the construction of the Arthur Ravenel Bridge.  From the beginning (2014), this project has included elements that would improve the safety and functionality for pedestrians and cyclists.  Huger Street has long been regarded as a main East / West vehicular connection in the upper Charleston Peninsula.  With the advancement of the ‘Lowcountry Lowline’, which will provide a major North / South cycling corridor parallel to Meeting Street, this project has been identified as an important connection for pedestrians and cyclists.  Once mostly general business and light industrial, the area is now seeing signs of significant redevelopment that includes residential and mixed-use.  Most recently a large mixed-use development was completed adjacent to I-26 and a future hotel along Huger Street and Meeting Street is currently being designed.

 In 2005 the “Partnership Agreement between the South Carolina Department of Transportation and the City of Charleston in regard to Mitigation and Enhancement Activities for the Cooper River Bridge Replacement Project” (Mitigation Agreement) called for mitigation and enhancement activities to be accomplished through this partnership.  One of the mitigation activities listed was to improve Huger Street with sidewalks, street lighting, street trees, crosswalks and pedestrian signals.

The proposed right-of-way improvements between Meeting Street and Morrison Drive are approximately 1/4- mile.  The project will include the streetscape work, dedicated bicycle facilities, and drainage improvements.  Funding for this project is provided by a combination of SCDOT funding (mitigation agreement and resurfacing contribution) and City of Charleston Tax Increment Financing (TIF) funding.

This project will be constructed within the existing 50’-wide right-of-way. No additional right-of-way will be acquired, although some temporary construction easements may be necessary. The project does not include any work to the west of Meeting Street (towards King Street). That portion of the roadway will be improved through a combination of public and private efforts, some of which have been recently completed.