County Council voted 11-0 Monday, September 26, to approve the Memorandum of Agreement with the Town of Hilton Head to move forward on the $290 million 278 Corridor Project.   

“Within the scope of the project, it says we want to do things together to make this the best project, but we need to move forward as quickly as we can,” said Chairman Joseph Passiment.

The MOA created through joint discussion of the Town and County professional staff outlined how the project would move forward in detail. Hilton Head Town Council gave formal feedback during their September 20 meeting, which was incorporated into the MOA passed by County Council on September 26.

The US 278 Bridges were built in the following years; 1982 for the two structures over Skull Creek, 1983 for the Westbound lane over MacKay Creek, and 1956 for the one Eastbound lane over MacKay Creek. The bridges are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete, only rated for a Category 3 hurricane, and do not meet any current earthquake guidelines. The proposed 6-lane bridge will be rated for Category 5 hurricanes and can withstand minor earthquakes.

The MOA describes how the County and Town will work together throughout the project and identifies critical components to be further evaluated and initiated, such as an end-to-end simulation from an independent consultant, an integrated signal project along the entirety of US 278 from I-95 to Sea Pines Circle and further refinement of the final mile of the project through the Stoney Community.

The independent consultant would be selected by three members of the County staff and three members of the Town staff. Citizens would have the opportunity to meet with the consultant and provide feedback once the consultant is selected. 

Any further delay could negatively impact County taxpayers, with inflation driving prices higher and the State Infrastructure Bank concerned with more delays.

Critics of the project released what they hope the independent consultant would conclude over the weekend. They believe the study will show a need for an Express Bypass between Squire Pope Rd and the Cross Island Expressway with overpasses at Squire Pope Road and Wild Horse Rd.   They also believe a new Second Bridge connecting the Bluffton Parkway to the south side of Hilton Head at the Cross Island Parkway and the Spanish Wells/Marshland Rd interchange is necessary. 

The County and SCDOT initially reviewed these options but concluded they were not environmentally or economically feasible. The possibilities also would require significant condemnation and land acquisitions. They will also have a negative impact on businesses and homeowners in Buckingham Landing, Stoney, and the Spanish Wells communities. 

Beaufort County has been working on an agreement for Municipal Consent with the Town of Hilton Head since 2018. South Carolina Department of Transportation and Beaufort County have worked for five years, presenting seventeen alternatives. After public feedback, it was settled on Alternative 4A. One bridge, with six lanes, is the most financially and environmentally feasible.

The County Council has also voted to support 21 of the 26 recommendations from the study commissioned by Hilton Head. 

Funding Breakdown is as follows:

Beaufort County’s one-cent sales tax: $80 million

Beaufort County road impact fees: $12.3 million

Beaufort County general obligation bonds for the Jenkins Island road project: $7 million

(The County had secured $7.18 million for the Jenkins Island project as of August 2019 and needed an additional $2.4 million in road impact fees to fund the project)

Town of Hilton Head Island right-of-way dedication: $3.35 million

Federal Guideshare funds: $4.2 million

SCDOT bridge replacement funds: $65.5 million