In March 2021, South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) changed the traffic flow on the Isle of Palms Connector in order to provide a multimodal plan that accommodates bikers, pedestrians, and vehicles.  Under SCDOT’s own standards, multimodal plans are intended to enhance safety for all who use the roadway.  The changes made eliminated the emergency lane on the bridge, thus eliminating direct unencumbered access for emergency vehicles on and off the island.  The work was performed under SCDOT’s maintenance budget.  There was neither a traffic study nor a safety study done prior to the re-striping.  SC Code 57-5-820 requires the consent of the City of Isle of Palms on such work, which was not given, and in fact was done over the objections of City Council and staff at the time.

In the third quarter of 2022, discussions continued between the city and SCDOT regarding the Connector.  As a result, in December 2022, SCDOT presented 5 alternative configurations for the IOP Connector which would address mobility, safety and congestion on the bridge.  SCDOT sought public input on the five new alternative configurations. More than 3,000 respondents participated, with less than half from Isle of Palms.  Most of those who responded to the survey chose the plan to move the bike and pedestrian lane to the south side of the bridge and add two lanes traveling off Isle of Palms headed to Mount Pleasant. Council eventually passed a resolution in 2023 in favor of that same alternative.   However, because the lanes must be reconfigured on the Mt. Pleasant side of the Connector to accommodate 2 lanes exiting the bridge into Mt. Pleasant, the city of Mt. Pleasant must agree to the change.  WCBD News 2 in early December Mayor Haynie of Mt. Pleasant, when interviewed by WCBD News 2 in early December 2023, said he “…believes the reconfiguration that all respondents voted yes to is pointless.  ‘We’re not trying to pick a fight with Isle of Palms. We’re great neighbors. We just think this is a solution looking for a problem and we don’t see the problem,’ Haynie said." Bottom line: No action has been taken.

We will continue to advocate for the re-striping of the IOP Connector to allow for the free flow of traffic on and off the bridge while accommodating bikers and emergency vehicles.  It is a safety issue for anyone needing emergency transport to hospitals, particularly during the peak beach season when traffic is the heaviest.  Further, given that the height of the sides of the bridge are out of compliance with SCDOT’s own standards, BIPA is not in favor of any pedestrian lane, marked or otherwise, until the bridge is brought up to its own height standard.  There is a reason that there are no marked “pedestrian” lanes on the bridge.  BIPA supports re-striping of the bridge, with a configuration that includes: 1) A bike lane on one side 2) A pedestrian lane that is compliant with SCDOT standards, and 3) Two vehicle lanes to exit Isle of Palms, which would allow for the free flow of traffic during peak season, but most importantly would allow for direct, unencumbered access for emergency vehicles on and off Isle of Palms.