SAVANNAH HIGHWAY AUDIT + IMPROVEMENTS

Savannah Hwy, Maryville Bikeway Bicycle + Pedestrian Counts

HISTORY + THE LATEST

Around 2018, Charleston County began assessing Savannah Highway for improvements, ultimately whittling the project down to three key locations: intersection of DuPont/Stinson/17; intersection of Wappoo/17; intersections of Avondale/Nicholson/17. In 2022, they began collecting public input. Charleston Moves noticed that the designs essentially ignored the need for bike/ped accommodations. Charleston Moves volunteers conducted bike/ped counts (view our report here) in order to provide the County with the data necessary to show the need for safe vulnerable user accommodations. After specific neighborhood meetings, the County decided to proceed with two intersections and let the City handle the pushback for the third intersection realignment. Charleston Moves provided city staff with suggestions on how to improve pedestrian access at the intersection and connecting to and from. If upgraded correctly, these intersections can provide safe crossing for people on bikes and foot to access the Maryville Bikeway, West Ashley Greenway (and ultimately the new Ashley River Bridge), neighborhoods, schools, businesses and churches. 

In January-February 2023, Charleston Moves staff joined the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) and their consultants, as well as FHWA, the City of Charleston, Charleston County, and the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments (BCDCOG), for a Road Safety Audit of Savannah Highway from Wappoo Road to Hughes Road. The US 17/Savannah Highway corridor has experienced a combined total of 2,567 vehicular, 8 bicycle, and 26 pedestrian crashes from July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2022. 18 crashes resulted in a fatality and 43 crashes resulted in an incapacitating injury. 

In February 2025, SCDOT hosted a public input meeting, and they are currently coordinating comments received. 

In March 2023, the City of Charleston’s Traffic & Transportation Committee of Council received a presentation from Charleston County staff on the proposed intersection improvements for Savannah Highway. The County is proceeding with improvements to the Dupont/Stinson and Wappoo intersections, but is deferring to the City’s outreach to the neighborhoods before proceeding with improvements to the Avondale/Nicholson intersections. The designs can be found here.

January 27, 2026, Charleston County staff presented to the City of Charleston Traffic & Transportation Committee of Council with the following updates: 

  • DuPont/Stinson/17 and Wappoo/17 intersection projects will be advertised for bids in late February 2026
  • The County and City are working together to acquire right of way, then moving forward on final plans for the Avondale/Nicholson/17 intersection project, aiming to advertise for bids by the end of 2026
  • Improvements to the Stocker/Chadwick/17/Parish intersection are substantially complete, with only the bus shelter installation pending
  • Design is underway for a separate sidewalk project to connect from 17 along Mutual Drive to Cherokee Hall Lane