The City of Cayce is in the last part of a plan to upgrade its busiest thoroughfare.

“Approximately 80 percent of the project is complete,” said Ashley Hunter, the City of Cayce’s spokeswoman.

The plan includes sidewalk and major pedestrian safety improvements.

Hunter said remaining items to be completed (in the next 60 days) include the sidewalk; traffic signal arms; trees, sod and landscaping; brick plazas at intersections.

Other items to be completed in the next three-to-six months include: removal and replacement of all pedestrian light poles and light fixtures; Installation of remaining SCE&G transmission power poles. That part of the project, Hunter said, involves the transfer of power lines from old, wooden poles to new poles. The old wooden poles will be removed.

The total construction cost of the streetscaping plan is $6.3 million

The amount of construction going on has disrupted traffic patterns to some extent. The Greater Cayce-West Columbia Chamber of Commerce held a “Knox Abbott Drive Week” in support of those businesses.

“We heard a call of need from our local business owners and tried to act in a way that would benefit them through this period of construction,” said Richard Skipper, the Chamber’s executive director..
Skipper said he felt the effort was effective.

“Everyone I spoke to during the week was appreciative and most felt like they saw an increase in foot traffic,” said Skipper. He is also optimistic about the changes.

“When finished, Knox Abbott Drive will be a premier gateway through our community and the entire community will benefit from the upgrades,” Skipper said.