Construction is officially underway on the City of West Columbia’s Meeting Street Improvement Project, with the first lane closure scheduled to begin Monday, Sept. 14.

The City received the required encroachment permit from the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) in August, allowing construction to move forward. AOS Specialty Contractors, the project’s general contractor, began construction activities Monday, Sept. 7, in the unimproved, City-owned parking lot adjacent to the Artisan Market Pavilion at 425 Meeting Street. The parking lot will remain closed while improvements to the lot are underway and is anticipated to reopen on Friday, Sept. 25.

Beginning Monday, September 14, the eastbound right lane of Meeting Street will be closed to through traffic, from the 400 block to the 900 block. The City is committed to maintaining access to all businesses throughout construction. Business entrances and driveways will remain open, and customers will continue to have access to businesses throughout the project.
Two-Week Look-AheadDemolition and construction activities will begin in the 400 block of Meeting Street. Motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians are encouraged to use caution and be alert to construction activity while traveling through the area.For project updates, maps, and more information, visit westcolumbiasc.gov/meetingstreet. 

About the Meeting Street Improvement ProjectThe Meeting Street Improvement Project is a long-term investment in the walkability, safety, and overall sense of place within the City of West Columbia’s River District. Identified as a priority corridor in the 2012 Gateway Overlay District Plan, Meeting Street carries approximately 12,300 vehicles each day and serves as an important connection through the heart of the River District.

The project will transform Meeting Street into a safer, more welcoming corridor that continues to accommodate vehicle traffic while improving the pedestrian experience and supporting nearby businesses. The project will reduce the number of travel lanes, creating space for wider sidewalks, additional on-street parking, landscaped medians, dedicated turn lanes, new street trees, and improved pedestrian crossings. These improvements are designed to help slow traffic, provide safer and more convenient places to cross Meeting Street, and create additional separation between pedestrians and moving vehicles.
Together, these improvements will help transform Meeting Street from a roadway primarily designed to move vehicles into a safer, more pedestrian-friendly corridor. The project is being funded in part through the City of West Columbia’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.

Pictured (Left to Right): Councilman Jimmy Brooks, Councilman Joseph Dickey, City Administrator Brian Carter, Mayor Tem Miles, Councilman David Moye