Beaufort County moves forward with Alljoy sidewalk project amid resident concerns

Beaufort County’s plan to construct a sidewalk along Alljoy Road in the Alljoy neighborhood is moving forward, despite continued concerns from local residents.

County officials provided details on the $1.18 million grant awarded by the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) for the project. The funding, part of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP), supports small-scale transportation projects such as pedestrian pathways. The grant will supplement revenue from the 2018 Transportation Sales Tax to cover the estimated $2 million project cost, pending the final engineering estimate.

“The tax will fund the project. The grant supplements the program to ensure we leverage the taxpayer dollars already collected through the tax,” said Brittanee Bishop, program and finance manager at Beaufort County Engineering.

Bishop said the sidewalk will be constructed to SCDOT standards using concrete and will be located within SCDOT’s right of way with grassed areas meeting department specifications.

However, the use of concrete has raised concerns among Alljoy residents, who worry the sidewalk will increase flooding risks for nearby properties. Residents argue the infrastructure of the sidewalk, catch boxes and pipes could cause contaminated stormwater to flow into the May River during heavy rainfall.

“We presented a petition with over 1,000 names and even proposed alternative surfacing proposals based on our research,” said Laura Wilson of the advocacy group Preserve and Protect Alljoy.

Standard concrete is impervious and contributes to runoff, which can carry pollutants into nearby waterways. Alljoy advocates want the county to consider pervious materials, which allow water to filter into the ground rather than running off into the May River and surrounding environment.

While disagreements remain, a recent Beaufort County update indicated construction is expected to begin this spring.

Channing Heiss is a freelance writer and a member of the Beaufort County disAbilities Coalition.