Beaufort County Council has disbanded the Southern Beaufort County Corridor Beautification Board after completing its task to beautify the significant corridors in Southern Beaufort County.

In total, approx. $868,055 was spent beautifying the Highway 278 medians that travelers enjoy today.

"Volunteering on a board or commission to support your local community is critical to the local governments begin connected to the people," said Chris Ophardt, Beaufort County Public Information Officer. "This group's dedication over the years has made Highway 278 an enjoyable drive for tourists and locals alike."

Created by a County ordinance in 2013, the Southern Beaufort County Corridor Beautification Board was represented by one resident from each County Council District and each municipality South of the Broad River. The SBCCBB helped with the Highway 278 Master Landscape Plan for median beautification, including providing oversight of design, bidding, and plant installation.

The goals of the median project were to create an attractive thoroughfare for residents and commuters and a warm welcome to the millions of tourists visiting the Lowcountry. Native plans with a wide range of colors, textures, and seasonal displays were maintained over the years. The median beautification project, overseen by the SBCCBB, helped increase property values and improve the entire region's quality of life.

J.K. Tiller was commissioned to develop a Master Landscape Plan to beautify the Highway 278 medians between Moss Creek Plantation and Highway 170 in 2014. 

This Board oversaw the beautification of Highway 278 between Tanger 2 and Berkeley Hall in several phases:

• Phase 1:  Spring 2015 approx. cost $106,000 fronting the Belfair Plantation property
• Phase 2:  Spring 2017 approx. cost $100,000 Baylor Drive to Rose Hill light
• Phase 3:  Winter 2018 approx. cost $271,150 Between Tanger 1 & Tanger 2
• Phase 4:  Fall 2019 approx. cost $321,905 between Rose Hill light & Berkeley Hall light
• Final Phase (Crape Myrtles only) Winter 2020 approx. cost $69,000 between Tanger 1 & Westbury Park