LOWCOUNTRY TRAFFIC ADVISORY!

Without providing any advance notice, the South Carolina DOT has chosen today to begin paving the intersection of US17 and SC 315 in Jasper County.

This is a very busy area for commuters who are headed to or from Savannah and/or the Bluffton/Hardeeville/Okatie areas. Consequently traffic in all directions is backed up.

Today around noon traffic from the Talmadge Bridge was backed up about 2 miles headed into SC. Traffic headed southbound toward the bridge along US 17 was also seriously backed up. And then there are all the drivers coming from the Lowcountry headed south along SC 315 trying to get to the bridge and Savannah. It took me nearly 90 minutes to get from Savannah to my home, typically a 35-40 minute drive. Again, the issue here is NO ADVANCE NOTICE. All those frustrated drivers could easily have taken another route such as I-95 or SC 170 into Garden City along "alligator alley."

If traffic was this backed up at noon, it will only be worse as afternoon "rush hour" approaches.

If you normally use any of these roads after work, stay away. Getting into or out of the Savannah area into the Lowcountry will probably be less stressful using I-95.