East-West Connector

I haven't heard much about this seriously need in a while, so I was happy to see this letter to Gresham Barrett in the agenda packet for this council meeting:

-----------------
February 19, 2007


The Honorable J. Gresham Barrett
P.O. Box 4126
315 South McDuffie Street
Anderson, SC 29622

Dear Congressman Barrett:

I am writing on behalf of Anderson County to urge you to support our collaborative effort with the City of Anderson to secure construction funds for the planned East-West Connector. This is arguably the Anderson community's biggest road need, having been in the planning stages since 1994. To date, more than $6 million has been spent on engineering, environment review, and right of way acquisition. However, funding constraints continue to keep this project from moving forward.

Not only will this project reduce congestion on Clemson Boulevard and other local roads by creating a bona fide east to west route though Anderson connecting two major traffic corridors, it will also enhance economic development, and help improve the safety of our community's drivers.

The controversial engineering and right-of-way acquisition phases of this project are complete. All that remains is the actual construction phase. Recent funding cuts have negatively impacted the SCDOT's ability to complete the road in a timely fashion. Thank you in advance for any assistance you can provide in moving this overdue project along. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.

Yours truly,

Joey R. Preston
Anderson County Administrator

-----------------

Everybody on here should follow up with Congressman Barrett and ask him to help us with this also.

He can be contacted here:

http://www.house.gov/formbarrett/writebarrett.htm