West Columbia City Council got an update at its meeting Tuesday regarding the Meeting Street Improvement Project from Charles Howell of Landplan Group South.

The plan includes the reduction of Meeting Street from four lanes to two lanes, from State Street to Ninth Street, in an effort to create a corridor with a sense of place.

The project will add: 63 parking spaces; 7 landscaped medians; 117 new trees; 6-feet-wide sidewalks with landscaping; and buffer zones.

Also included are acrylic art panels. The medians will have river rock in them to convey a river theme and plantings in the corridor will be native to the area.

Project planners have been meeting with the SC Department of Transportation, Howell said. Property owners in the area have also been consulted, said Mayor Tem Miles, in order to get their feedback.
There are three general contractors that are ready to start construction as soon as final approval is given.