Personal Injury Attorney in Reidville, SC

Reidville Road, Moore-Duncan Highway and East Main Street in Spartanburg are among several major roads that would be repaved with funding from a new six-year penny sales tax if voters approve in November.

In all, 34 major asphalt pavement projects would be completed by the sixth year the tax is collected, according to a list the Spartanburg County Council forwarded to a six-member commission. The commission will draft the language of a referendum to appear on the November ballot.

In addition, there are numerous countywide stormwater and intersection improvement projects and hundreds of neighborhood street repaving projects that would be paid for by the penny tax, which is estimated to generate $478 million over six years.

If approved, the sales tax would continue to be applied to items purchased in the county when the current penny tax – which was raised from 6 cents to 7 cents in 2018 – expires April 30, 2024.

"It is imperative that we fix our roads and intersections now because every day that goes by without them being repaired they fall further into a state of disrepair. The cost then goes up exponentially," County Councilman David Britt said.

The county maintains more than 1,700 miles of roads and 150 bridges. An estimated 45% of them are classified as in poor condition, and the S.C. Department of Transportation estimates that 60% of the state's secondary roads in the county are also in poor condition.

Spartanburg County Council: 'How are we going to pay to fix the roads?'

Britt said many roads were built more than 50 years ago and not designed to handle the weight of vehicles of today, such as SUVs and large trucks that deliver goods to distribution centers and grocery stores.

All County Council and several City Council members have stated support for a new penny tax, saying it is the least painful way to fix what is the number one local issue for many residents.

"I think its the best thing to do," said County Councilman Bob Walker. "It's the fairest way and the best way, and it's spread out. I'm elected by the citizens, and that's who I work for. If they want to discuss the penny tax with me, I'm available."

County Councilman Justin McCorkle said the penny tax is "the best option … to get the best bang for the buck, so to speak.

"This option provides the least burden on citizens and the greatest impact on roadway improvements," McCorkle said.

Britt said he was recently asked why the county doesn't simply use tax revenues from new companies coming to Spartanburg County to pay for road improvements.

"I told the resident it would take over 125 years to just generate the money that the penny sales tax will generate in six years," Britt said. "Today the question is how are we going to pay to fix the roads?

"Either have an astronomical property tax increase that no one wants or use the penny sales," Britt said. "Thirty-five percent or more of the revenues generated by the penny sales tax will be paid for by people who do not live in Spartanburg that use our roads. Why not let them help us pave our roads."

County Councilman Jack Mabry said, "As long as we wait till the current penny sales tax for the courthouse is sunset and we put it to a vote, I feel the penny sales tax is the best way to address our roads. I am not a big fan of back-to-back penny tax, but if we want better roads this is the bet way to address it."

Public Works Director Travis Brown estimated a backlog of $500 million in roads that are in need of repair.

Brown, who compiled the list of road projects spread over six years, told council members the projects will be "concentrated in areas of higher growth" and take into account pavement condition, traffic counts, crash data and functionality.

Spartanburg County road, bridge projects spread out over six years

The project list is divided into six tiers, with the first tier being the highest priority to start in the first year, and the sixth tier the lowest priority in the final year of the penny tax.

Planned Spartanburg area projects

Here is a look at major projects planned under Tier 1 if the penny tax referendum commission approves the list to appear on the November ballot:

Tier 1, asphalt pavement improvement:

Moore-Duncan Highway (SC 290), from Reidville Road to Rogers Bridge Road, 2.75 miles, $6.6 million; Moore-Duncan Highway (SC 290) from Meauly Road to N. Danzler Road, 1.4 miles, $3.6 million; Reidville Road (SC 296), from SC 290 to SC 295, 5.5 miles, $14 million; E. Main Street in Spartanburg, from US 29 to Converse Street, 2.9 miles, $1.4 million.

Tier 1, intersection improvement:

Zion Hill Road at Sloan's Grove Road, a roundabout, $3 million.

Tier 2, asphalt pavement improvement:

Main St./E. St. John St./W. St. John St., from SC 296 to Cherokee County line, 11 miles, $22 million; Cherry Hill Road, from US 29 to River Street, 3.2 miles, $2 million; Foster Street, from Cannons Campground Road to US 29, 2.8 miles, $1.1 million.

Tier 2, bridge replacement:

Alverson Road bridge, Campobello, $4.5 million; Freys Drive bridge, Spartanburg westside, $2.75 million.

Tier 2, intersection improvement:

US 176 at Dogwood Club Road, $2.5 million; Floyd Road at Cannons Campground Road, $1.5 million.

Tier 3, asphalt pavement improvement:

Rutherford Street, from I-26 to US 176, 2 miles, $2.8 million; Redland Road, from SC 14 to Red Hill Lane, 1.3 miles, $1.1 million; Brockman/McClimon Road, from I-85 to SC 101, 1.5 miles, $3.4 million; Abner Creek Road, from SC 101 to Westmoreland Road, 4.6 miles, $3.9 million; Cavins Road, from E. Hayne St. to E. Georgia Road, 1.6 miles, $1.4 million; Peanut Road, from East Georgia Road to US 221, 1.8 miles, 1.5 million; Edwards Road, from Fountain Inn Road to SC 101, 2.5 miles, $2.1 million; Fernwood/Glendale Road, from SC 29 to Clifton/Glendale Road, 3.1 miles, $6.6 million.

Tier 3, bridge replacement:

Grand Canyon Road bridge, Inman, $1.75 million; Calvary Road bridge, Inman, $1.75 million.

Tier 3, intersection improvement:

Gossett Road at Cannons Campground Road, $3 million; SC 129 at Carver/Bobo, $3 million; SC 292 at Bishop Road, $3 million.

Tier 4, asphalt pavement improvement:

Southport Road from SC 215 to US 176, 12.6 miles, $24.6 million; Old Canaan Road, from SC 295 to Canaan Road, 2.9 miles, $2.5 million.

Tier 4, bridge replacement:

Settle Road bridge, Inman, $2 million; Landrum Mill Road bridge, Landrum, $2 million.

Tier 4, intersection improvement:

SC 357 at SC 358, $3.5 million; Old Converse Road at Cannons Campground Road, $2 million; Double Bridge Road at Hanging Rock Road, $3 million; Hammett Store Road at SC 357, $3 million.

Tier 5, asphalt pavement improvement:

Reidville Road from SC 295 to W. Main St., 2.4 miles, $4.5 million; US 221, from Southport Road to Barnwell Road, 6.2 miles, $29.5 million; Camelot Drive from US 29 to SC 296, 1 mile, $2 million; N. Daniel Morgan Ave., from US 29 to N. Church St., 0.4 miles, $722,975; Powell Mill Road, from SC 29 to Front St., 1.3 miles, $1.1 million; Powell Mill/Textile Road, from Front St. to Vanderbilt Road, 1 mile, $851,840; Powell Mill Road, from Powell Mill to Textile St., 0.6 miles, $477,030; Oak Grove Road, from S. Blackstock Road to Reidville Road, 0.67 miles, $856,099; Oak Grove Road, Reidville Road to South Blackstock Road, 1.1 miles, $1.4 million.

Tier 5, bridge replacement:

Stewart Road bridge, Pauline, $2.5 million; Rock Hill Church Road bridge, Inman, $2.5 million.

Tier 5, intersection improvement:

Battleground Road at US 29, $4.5 million; Old Furnace Road at Sugar Ridge Road, $3.5 million; Mt. Zion Road at John Dodd Road, $3 million; W. Henry St. at S. Forest St., $3.5 million.

Tier 5, county road corridor reconstruction:

Plainview Drive, from US 29 to Cannons Campground Road, 1.1 miles, $3.5 million; Blalock Road, from SC 9 to Old Furnace Road, 0.9 miles, $3.5 million.

Tier 6, asphalt pavement improvement:

SC 101, from Arnold Road to Rogers Bridge Road, 11.3 miles, $27 million.

Tier 6, bridge replacement:

RC Thompson Road bridge, Chesnee, $1.75 million; Bearden Road bridge, Roebuck, $2.25 million.

Tier 6, county road corridor reconstruction:

Upper Valley Falls Road from Valley Falls Road to US 176, 1.2 miles, $4.75 million; Hammett Store Road, from Hampton Road to SC 357, 2.2 miles, $6 million; Floyd Road, from Cannons Campground Road to US 221, 1.7 miles, $4.75 million; Genoble Road, from Victor Hill Road to Robinson Road, 0.9 miles,, $3.75 million; Foster Road, from SC 11 to Compton Bridge Road, 4.1 miles, $14 million.