City of Charleston leaders discuss updates on Johns Island Elementary project

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – City of Charleston and Charleston County School District leaders are continuing to work together to ensure necessary improvements to River Road are made before the new Johns Island Elementary opens.

CCSD is required to add in a roundabout and turn lanes on Brownswood Road and River Road before the school can begin in August 2025. Safety concerns arose during the January “Traffic and Transportation” meeting, making city officials bring this up as a priority.

“I just want to draw awareness to a classic example of we’re running out of space on Johns Island as far as the city portion of Johns Island. We’re trying to put a school, which we desperately need, on a road that’s very dangerous and needs a lot of improvements,” Jim McBride, council member for district 3, said. “I’m hoping this will draw some awareness to that fact.” 

Though CCSD is responsible for their property, they must also collaborate with the city and the South Carolina Department of Transportation to ensure traffic flow and safety is up to what was agreed upon.

“I think it’s important for people to know that this is a cooperative effort. The school is being built by the school district, the city doesn’t build roads but it’s in our city so we want to make sure those roads are safe,” Mike Seekings, chair of Traffic and Transportation, said. “I think the this conversation that we started at that last [traffic and transportation] meeting and will continue to tonight, is really a good and valid one to make sure that everyone is on the same page. When the school opens the roads will be completed with the safety improvements. As contemplated and as designed. That’s the objective.”

The district did a traffic study on the area before building, to ensure there would be smooth flow of traffic in and out of the school. During a CCSD press conference, officials were asked about an update on the school and River Road improvements.

“We are building it in the heart of where the children live. In actuality, we’re creating a situation where there will be less traffic, in some ways than if the school was put somewhere else,” Jeffrey Borowy, chief operating officer of CCSD, said.

City leaders added that there may be additional pipes added near the school’s entrance, as the deep ditches on River Road pose safety issues. However, each agency is committed to working together on this project.

“I think the school district, the county, we at the city all have a shared obligation to make sure whatever those improvements are, they fit into the geography of the area and again they are best they could possibly be. Recognizing that that is a tough corridor out there to widen roads, to build larger improvements, but we got to do the best we can,” Seekings said.