Bear Island Road Extension

• Completed
• Ribbon cutting ceremony 10 a.m. September 29, 2020.
• 1.4 mile road project
• Connects N. Main St. to N. Maple St.
• Helps to alleviate traffic congestion in the area of Azalea Square.
• $6.3 million
• Construction contract awarded to Banks Construction

Bear Island Road Plan Sheets

August 2020 Update: All permits for the project have been acquired. The Finance Committee approved a requisition for $6,395,786.33 for Banks Construction in June 2019. Banks Construction mobilized and began clearing operations on July 8, 2019. Construction is 77.8% completed. It's expected to be completed in September 2020. 

May 8, 2020: Part of Berkeley Cir. is expected to be closed between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 14, 2020.

Northbound traffic will be detoured to Cinema Dr., Azalea Square Blvd. over to Sheep Island Rd.

Southbound traffic will be detoured to Hwy. 17A.

Work is for installation of new storm drainage pipe across Berkeley Cir. Drivers traveling near the project’s construction zone are asked to be aware of equipment and crews working. Drivers are also asked to notice and comply with any flagger personnel, traffic control signs, reductions in speed limits, and message board information.

All road work is dependent on weather.

March 4, 2020: There will be a lane closure on Sheep Island Rd, between Berkeley Circle and Azalea Square Blvd. from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 10, 2020. This work is to install new storm drainage along Sheep Island Rd.

Drivers traveling near the project’s construction zone are asked to be aware of equipment and crews working in the area at all times. Drivers are also asked to notice and comply with flagger personnel, traffic control signs, reductions in speed limits, and message board information. All road work is dependent on the weather.

January 29, 2020: There will be a lane closure on N. Maple St. Ext. between Old Dairy Rd. and Holiday Dr. from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, January 29, 2020. This work is to tie in the new Bear Island Rd. to N. Maple St.

Crews will also conduct temporary lane shifts on Bear Island Rd. at the Sheep Island Rd. intersection. This work is to install new storm drainage.

Drivers traveling near the project’s construction zone are asked to be aware of equipment and crews working in the area at all times. Drivers are also asked to notice and comply with flagger personnel, traffic control signs, reductions in speed limits, and message board information. All road work is dependent on the weather.

January 14, 2020: There will be a lane closure on N. Maple St. Ext. between Old Dairy Rd. and Holiday Dr. between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. Friday, January 17, 2020. This work is to tie in the new Bear Island Rd. to N. Maple St.

Drivers traveling near the project’s construction zone are asked to be aware of equipment and crews working in the area at all times. Drivers are also asked to notice and comply with flagger personnel, traffic control signs, reductions in speed limits, and message board information. All road work is dependent on the weather.

January 3, 2019: Holiday Dr. will be closed at the new Bear Island Rd. intersection between 7 a.m. Monday, January 6 and 6 p.m. Wednesday, January 8, 2020. 

Residents on Avonshire Dr. and Cranston Ln. are encouraged to utilize

Cotton Hope Ln. for these three days.

Drivers traveling near the project’s construction zone are asked to be aware of equipment and crews working in the area at all times. Drivers are also asked to notice and comply with flagger personnel, traffic control signs, reductions in speed limits, and message board information. All road work is dependent on the weather.

December 10, 2019: There will be a lane closure operation between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Wednesday, December 11 and Friday, December 13, 2019, on North Maple St Ext between Old Dairy Rd. and Holiday Dr.

Work is to facilitate the delivery of fill material for the new Bear Island Road Project.

Drivers traveling near the construction zone are asked to be aware of equipment and crews working in the area. Drivers are also asked to notice and comply with flagger personnel, traffic control signs, reductions in speed limits, and message board information. All work is dependent on the weather.

October 25, 2019: There will be a temporary road closure between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Tuesday, October 29 through Thursday, October 31, 2019, at Bear Island Rd. between Dovetail Cir. and the First Vista Sands Apartment entrance. 

A temporary detour will be in place to direct residents to Holiday Dr.

Vista Sands residents are asked to utilize the adjacent entrance closest to the Bear Island Rd. and Sheep Island Rd. intersection.

Work is to facilitate paving operations for the new Bear Island Road Project.

Drivers traveling near the construction zone are asked to be aware of equipment and crews working in the area. Drivers are also asked to notice and comply with flagger personnel, traffic control signs, reductions in speed limits, and message board information. All work is weather dependant.

POSTPONED October 20, 2019: There will be a temporary road closure between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Thursday, October 24 and Friday, October 25, 2019, at Bear Island Rd. between Dovetail Cir. and the First Vista Sands Apartment entrance. 

A temporary detour will be in place to direct residents to Holiday Dr. Vista Sands residents are asked to utilize the adjacent entrance closest to the Bear Island Rd. and Sheep Island Rd. intersection.

Work is to facilitate paving operations for the new Bear Island Road Project.

Drivers traveling near the construction zone are asked to be aware of equipment and crews working in the area. Drivers are also asked to notice and comply with flagger personnel, traffic control signs, reductions in speed limits, and message board information. All work is weather dependant.

September 20, 2019: There will be temporary road closure operations between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Thursday, September 26 and Friday, September 27, 2019, on Cotton Hope Ln. Residents on Avonshire Dr. and Cranston Ln. are encouraged to utilize alternate routes to bypass this area.

Work is to facilitate the delivery of fill material for the new Bear Island Road Project.

Drivers traveling near the construction zone are asked to be aware of equipment and crews working in the area. Drivers are also asked to notice and comply with flagger personnel, traffic control signs, reductions in speed limits, and message board information. All work is dependent on weather.

September 6, 2019: There will be a temporary road closure between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Monday, September 9 and Tuesday, September 10, 2019, on Cotton Hope Ln. at the new Bear Island Rd. intersection. There will also be a temporary road closure between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Wednesday, September 11 and Thursday, September 12, 2019, on Holiday Dr. Residents on Avonshire Dr. and Cranston Ln. are encouraged to utilize alternate routes to bypass this area.

Work is to facilitate the delivery of fill material for the new Bear Island Road Project.

Drivers traveling near the construction zone are asked to be aware of equipment and crews working in the area. Drivers are also asked to notice and comply with flagger personnel, traffic control signs, reductions in speed limits, and message board information. All work is dependent on weather.

August 27, 2019: There will be a temporary road closure between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Thursday, August 29 and Friday, August 30, 2019, at Cotton Hope Ln. and the new Bear Island Rd. intersection. Residents on Avonshire Dr. and Cranston Ln. are encouraged to utilize Holiday Dr. to bypass this area.

Work is to facilitate the delivery of fill material for the new Bear Island Road Project.

Drivers traveling near the construction zone are asked to be aware of equipment and crews working in the area. Drivers are also asked to notice and comply with flagger personnel, traffic control signs, reductions in speed limits, and message board information. All work is dependent on weather.

August 22, 2019: There will be a temporary road closure between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday, August 26 through Wednesday, August 28, 2019, on N. Maple St. Ext. between Old Dairy Rd. and Holiday Dr. Work is to facilitate the delivery of fill material for the new Bear Island Road Project. Drivers traveling near the construction zone are asked to be aware of equipment and crews working in the area. Drivers are also asked to notice and comply with flagger personnel, traffic control signs, reductions in speed limits, and message board information. All work is dependent on weather.

August 8, 2019: There will be a temporary road closure between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. starting Wednesday, August 14, through Friday, August 16, 2019, at Holiday Dr. and the new Bear Island Rd. intersection. Residents on Avonshire Dr. and Cranston Ln. are encouraged to utilize Cotton Hope Ln. to bypass this area. Work is to facilitate the delivery of fill material for the new Bear Island Road Project. Drivers traveling near the construction zone are asked to be aware of equipment and crews working in the area. Drivers are also asked to notice and comply with flagger personnel, traffic control signs, reductions in speed limits, and message board information. All work is dependent on weather.

August 2, 2019: There will be temporary lane closures Monday, August 5, through Wednesday, August 7, 2019, between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. at the following locations:

• Bear Island Rd. at the intersection of Sheep Island Rd.
• Berkeley Cir. at the intersection of Main Street.
• There will be a lane closure with a flagging operation on Azalea Square Blvd. near Best Buy.

Crews will work to facilitate the tree clearing operation for the new Bear Island Road Project. Drivers traveling near the construction zone are asked to be aware of equipment and crews working in the area. Drivers are also asked to notice and comply with flagger personnel, traffic control signs, reductions in speed limits, and message board information. Work is dependent on the weather.

August 1, 2019: On Thursday, August 8, and Friday, August 9, 2019, Bear Island Rd. will be closed between Dovetail Cir. and the first Vista Sands Apartment entrance. This is to facilitate the delivery of fill material for the new Bear Island Rd. project. A temporary detour will be in place between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. to direct residents to Holiday Dr. Vista Sands residents are asked to utilize the adjacent entrance closest to the Bear Island Rd. and Sheep Island Rd. intersection. Drivers traveling near the construction zone are asked to be aware of equipment and crews working. Drivers are also asked to notice and comply with flagger personnel, traffic control signs, reductions in speed limits, and message board information. Road work is dependent on weather.

July 30, 2019: Bear Island Rd. between Delafield Dr. to Cotton Hope Ln. is closed indefinitely for the construction of the new Bear Island Rd. There will also be a temporary road closure operation on Tuesday, July 30 and Wednesday, July 31 from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. on Cotton Hope Ln. at the Bear Island Rd. intersection. This is to facilitate the tree clearing operation for the project. Residents on Avonshire Dr. and Cranston Ln. are encouraged to take Holiday Dr. to bypass this area. Drivers traveling near the project’s construction zone are asked to be aware of equipment and crews working at all times. Drivers are also asked to notice and comply with flagger personnel, traffic control signs, reductions in speed limits, and message board information. Road work is weather dependent.

July 18, 2019: On Friday, July 19, 2019, there will be a lane closure operation on North Maple St. Ext between Old Dairy Rd. and Holiday Dr. and a road closure operation on Cotton Hope Ln. at the proposed Bear Island Rd. intersection. Residents on Avonshire Dr. and Cranston Ln. are encouraged to utilize Holiday Dr. to bypass this area. These traffic control operations are expected to be between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. and are to facilitate the tree clearing operation for the new Bear Island Rd. project. Drivers traveling near the project’s construction zone are asked to be aware of crews working and equipment in the area at all times. Drivers are also asked to notice and comply with flagger personnel, traffic control signs, reductions in speed limits, and message board information. All road work is dependent on the weather. 

July 18, 2019: The Town of Summerville Public Works Department will host a groundbreaking ceremony for the Bear Island Road Extension Project on Wednesday, July 24, 2019, at 9:30 a.m. It will take place at the intersection of Bear Island Rd. and Dovetail Cir.

July 16, 2019: On Thursday, July 18, 2019, there will be a lane closure operation on North Maple St. Ext between Old Dairy Rd. and Holiday Dr. and a road closure operation on Cotton Hope Ln. at the proposed Bear Island Rd. intersection. Residents on Avonshire Dr. and Cranston Ln. are encouraged to utilize Holiday Dr. to bypass this area. These traffic control operations are expected to be between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. and are to facilitate the tree clearing operation for the new Bear Island Rd. project. Drivers traveling near the project’s construction zone are asked to be aware of crews working and equipment in the area at all times. Drivers are also asked to notice and comply with flagger personnel, traffic control signs, reductions in speed limits, and message board information. All road work is dependent on the weather.

July 8, 2019: Lane closure operations on Sheep Island Rd. between Azalea Square Blvd. and Bear Island Rd. will take place Tuesday, July 9 through Friday, July 12, 2019, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Banks Construction Company will be conducting utility relocation work. Drivers traveling near the project’s construction zone are asked to be aware of equipment and crews working. Drivers are also asked to notice and comply with flagger personnel, traffic control signs, reductions in speed limits, and message board information. Work is dependent on the weather. 

June 24, 2019: The Town of Summerville issued an official Notice to Proceed letter to the contractor to begin work on July 8, 2019. Beginning this week, there will be utility relocation work ongoing in the area of Sheep Island Road, Bear Island Road, and Azalea Square Shopping Center. Surveying crews will be on site staking right-of-way and drainage features for utility relocations. Motorists are urged to be aware of this ongoing work and follow all traffic control devices and signs. Clearing work will begin the week of July 8, 2019.

June 17, 2019: Banks Construction was awarded the construction contract on June 10, 2019, to build Bear Island Road Extension for the amount of $6,395,786.33. The contractor will soon be mobilizing to begin work on the 1.4-mile roadway project. The construction duration is 15 months. Project updates such as construction schedules and road closures will be posted on this page regularly.

On April 8^th the Town received approval from the Federal Highway Administration for Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs). The RRFB will be installed at the pedestrian crossing on Bear Island Road at Holiday Drive near the amenities center. This will be the first RRFB device in the Lowcountry.

The devise will be powered by solar energy and is less expensive that the traditional HAWK Signals. Studies have shown these devices are much more effective and safer for pedestrians to cross un-signalized intersections or mid-block crossings.

When completed the new intersection at Bear Island Road and Holiday Drive will provide the residents of the Weatherstone community safer and faster access to their amenities center.