Bamberg County Intersection at US-21 and SC-61 to Get New Traffic Pattern

The South Carolina Department of Transportation announced Wednesday that the intersection of US-21, known locally as Freedom Road, and SC-61, known as Edisto River Road, will be converted to an all-way stop beginning March 30.

The change, set to take effect in five days, means drivers approaching the crossroads from all four directions will be required to stop, altering what had been a less controlled traffic flow at the rural Bamberg County junction. The intersection is one of 32 across the state selected for safety improvements through the federal Highway Safety Improvement Program.

The program uses a data-driven strategic approach to identify locations throughout the state with high crash rates, or patterns, and implements safety enhancements through infrastructure-related improvements. An engineering study is performed at each selected location, including an analysis of crash data, an assessment of field conditions, and an evaluation of the effectiveness of all potential countermeasures to ensure maximum safety benefits are obtained for funds invested.

The 32 intersections selected statewide represent a total investment of $62.1 million in federal Highway Safety Improvement Program funds across 18 counties.

The conversion to an all-way stop is one of the more immediate changes SCDOT is making in Bamberg County. SCDOT has also been working on a separate proposed intersection improvement project at SC-70 (Country Club Road) and S-49 (Char-Augusta Road) in Bamberg County, holding a drop-in public meeting at Bamberg Public Library, 3156 E. Railroad Ave., where the stated purpose was to improve traffic safety by reducing the frequency and severity of crashes.

Motorists who regularly travel Freedom Road or Edisto River Road should plan for the new stopping requirement at that crossing beginning Monday, March 30.