County urged to coordinate signal timing with Beaufort County to relieve US 278 backups

During discussion of the US 278 corridor, a committee member described lengthy morning backups that have blocked access to I-95 and urged staff and consultants to coordinate with Beaufort County on signal timing.

"Our residents in the northern part of the county can't get to work. They're stuck," the member said, urging engineers to consider timing changes and other short-term fixes at the Margaritaville light. The member cautioned that adding the new light at Argent Boulevard and the existing Walmart light risks creating worse congestion without timing coordination.

Carla Vincent said she has begun conversations with Beaufort County and noted that OptiComm installation and activation are outstanding steps tied to other construction work; she said staff will work with Beaufort County on timing once the remaining construction elements are complete.

The exchange prompted staff and consultants to commit to pursuing operational coordination before the projects advance further in design and construction stages.