Significant Improvements Ahead for Busy Traffic Circle in Spartanburg County
Driven by Safety Goals
Safety of drivers has pushed the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) to develop a comprehensive improvement plan for the chaotic Hearon Circle located in Spartanburg County. Serving as a vital link between Business 85 and the Asheville Highway, this traffic circle has been receiving traffic in large volumes and has since been encountering numerous collisions that have caused worry among local residents.
Traffic Circle Nightmare
“People drive fast and they have no regard for anyone else on the road, or for themselves. Something needs to be done for our safety,” expressed local resident, Christel.
The traffic circle also challenged the visitors with confusion. Another resident, Curtis Baldwin stated, “We have observed out-of-town people coming in the wrong direction. The current set-up can be quite perplexing for new visitors.”
Understanding the Numbers
According to the SCDOT spokesperson, Hannah Robinson, over 1,500 accidents were recorded in the previous decade, 80% of which involved rear-end crashes. A significant percentage of these accidents centered around Simuel Road.
The Planned Revamp
On this note, SCDOT is planning to eliminate Simuel Road from the traffic circle alongside converting the business off-ramp at Charisma Drive to a one-way flow of traffic entering the circle. Making the traffic circle more efficient involved reducing entrance points and decreasing the volume of traffic at some entrances. Hannah Robinson elaborated on the plan, “We’re aiming to make the circle more efficient by minimizing some entry points and limiting the amount of traffic at some of these entry points.”
Public Sentiments
Many drivers expressed that Hearon Circle desperately needed these changes. Until these improvements took effect, they planned to maneuver the traffic circle with extreme caution. David Carter, another resident warned, “It’s better to take your time. Letting several cars pass is better than trying to squeeze through a short gap, possibly causing an accident.”
Future Outlook
SCDOT anticipates commencing the construction in early 2026 depending on the public reaction it gets regarding the proposed changes. Public feedback will determine the final plan, which can be submitted until September 6 through emails or via the post.
Drive Safe!
Spartanburg community and its well-being matter. Thus, the proposed measures are aimed at reducing collisions, ensuring safer commutes, and promoting a responsible driving mindset among all road users. This project hopes to ensure peace of mind for drivers and would keep Spartanburg County moving forward.
