N. Charleston City Leaders Consider Traffic Safety Measures on Salamander Road

NORTH CHARLESTON, SC (WCSC) – North Charleston neighbors say advocating for safe connectivity along Salamander Road has proven to be a long battle.

The neighborhood’s two-lane street may soon see an answer to those concerns in the form of speed bumps. City leaders will consider the change at a public safety briefing Thursday.

“We desperately need them, at least two, possibly three, along this road. It’s not safe for the residents who live here,” says neighbor Melody Brown.

A traffic survey conducted by the North Charleston Police Department between Aug. 26 and Sept. 4 lists the average speed of travelers as between 31 and 34 miles per hour, despite the posted limit of 25 miles per hour. Top speeds were recorded between 57 and 74 miles per hour.

On average, the report showed 597 vehicles per day.

The department recommended traffic calming devices, law enforcement presence and monitoring.

“There is a lot more traffic back there, which causes, or can put us in a situation of higher speeds and fines, accidents”, says councilor Sandino Moses. “We want to make sure that, kids, everyone in District Three feels safe in the area.”

Currently, at least three construction zones line the road from Otranto to Shadow Lane. Neighbors say they expect 200 new homes in the area.

Brown’s family moved to Salamander Road in 1972. She says the area has grown exponentially and believes it needs an infrastructure upgrade.

“We are a sought-after area, with access to interstates and secondary roads, a hospital complex and lots of restaurants and shops,” says Brown. “We have a lot of elderly people and I foresee an influx of a lot of younger families.”

The community also suggests the idea of three-way stops, sidewalks, guardrails, reducing the speed limit and removing passing lanes.

If the recommendation is approved, it will go to the South Carolina Department of Transportation for consideration under its traffic calming guidelines. Salamander Road and many other nearby streets are considered state-owned.