West Columbia City Council approved a Mast Arm Traffic Signal and Stamped Cross Walk Project at its meeting Tuesday. The project will be constructed by the SC Department of Transportation.

It is part of a $600,000-plus Highway Safety Improvement project to add four mast stop light arms and six stamped crosswalks to US 1 at Dreher Rd and Leaphart Rd,; three mast arms and three stamped crosswalks to US 1 at Wade Street and Westside Plaza (Hobby Lobby) Shopping Center, and three mast arms and two stamped crosswalks to US 1 at the Walmart Driveway.

The City of West Columbia will pay for most of the upgrades, but the SCDOT will also contribute funds for the project.

West Columbia Mayor Tem Miles described the area as a high-risk corridor.
“This project will improve the safety there, and make it more appealing aesthetically,” he said.

In addition to the mast arms and crosswalk stamps, the medians in the corridor will be beautified.

“It will be more than just concrete medians,” Miles said.

He also said the area is highly commercial, with lots of private investment already there. The Stillwater housing community, behind Hobby Lobby, is selling well, so growth in the area is expected.