BURNT CHURCH ROAD SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENTS
Background:
The Beaufort County Government proposes to construct a sidewalk along approximately 1.3 miles of Burnt Church Road between Alljoy Road/Bridge Street and Bluffton Parkway. Although proposed improvements previously included a roadway widening, after the 2024 Transportation Sales Tax Referendum was not approved by voters, Beaufort County Council established a newly defined project list in July 2025 that includes projects that can be completed with funds already collected.
The current proposed improvements for Burnt Church Road, as included on the 2025 project list, are a six-foot-wide sidewalk.
You can review the preliminary plans at the links below. A Public Meeting was held on February 24, 2026 for the Burnt Church Road Sidewalk Improvements.
Based on feedback from the public as well as from the South Carolina Department of Transportation, the plans are being revised. The revised plans will include a six foot concrete sidewalk beginning at Bridge Street along the west side of Burnt Church Road to Lake Linden Drive. A crosswalk is proposed across Burnt Church Road just south of Bruin Road near Lost Hollow Lane. The sidewalk will begin there on the east side of Burnt Church Road and continue to Bluffton Parkway.
Project Schedule:
Roadway Design: Spring/Summer 2026
SCDOT and Utility Coordination: Summer/ Fall 2026
Let for Construction Late Fall 2026
Begin Construction Winter 2026/2027
Meeting Materials:
Meeting Handout
Meeting Summary of Comments and Responses
Project History:
1st Public Meeting:
The first public input meeting was held November 17, 2022. The meeting was attended by 46 local residents and 44 written comments were received at the meeting or during the month-long comment period. Concerns raised included property impacts, pedestrian safety, and vehicle speeds within the corridor. To address these comments, the project team has adjusted the preferred roadway alignment and reduced the proposed facility width.
2nd Public Meeting:
The second public meeting for the proposed improvements to Burnt Church Road was held November 9, 2023, at the Bluffton Recreation Center gymnasium and was attended by 94 local residents. Representatives from the project team were available to answer questions and receive input from the community regarding the proposed project. A total of 65 written comments were received at the meeting or submitted via email or the online comment form during the month-long comment period. Participants were overwhelmingly in favor of the proposed improvements, specifically citing that the bike and pedestrian facilities are very needed in the corridor. The most common concerns focused on pedestrian safety and vehicle speeds along Burnt Church Road. More specific comments included requests to:
- Add flashing lights at cross walks where possible to ensure pedestrian safety
- Maintain existing access to the commercial establishments at Bruin Road/Burnt Church Road intersection
- Ensure that the proposed roundabout is properly sized to accommodate trucks coming from Stroup Lane
- Bury overhead powerlines
- Extend fencing along Lake Linden
- Reduce speed limit for entire corridor
- Install traffic light instead of roundabout at Bruin/Burnt Church Road Intersection
Click here for information from previous November 09, 2023 meeting.
Click here for information from previous November 17, 2022 meeting.