Lancaster roads update details multi‑year projects, cites utility moves and guardrail as cost drivers

Jeff Cato, Lancaster County’s roads staff, gave an extensive report Nov. 10 on pavement work funded through capital sales tax programs, proviso allocations and CTC (gas tax) funds covering 2020–2026.

Cato listed completed and programmed projects by year, miles and approximate costs (examples cited in the presentation include $3,682,222 for proviso work in 2023 covering about 7.92 miles and programming of $3,909,878 for 2025–26 projects). He said combined funding across capital sales taxes and CTC sources produced a five‑year program totaling roughly $46,880,015.20 and a program mileage of more than 113 miles across multiple categories.

Explaining why per‑mile unit costs differ between capital sales tax projects and CTC projects, Cato said recent specifications require paved shoulders, guardrail and utility relocations that significantly raise costs. "What's really driving up the cost today is the fact that... you have to move a manhole or move a waterline and then we've had to move utility poles," he told council. He also distinguished pavement preservation (surface treatments on roads without full milling) from traditional resurfacing to get more service life for less cost.

Council members asked for comparative per‑mile cost analysis and why CTC averages were lower; Cato said CTC work is often resurfacing/resurfacing‑type projects on different road types and sometimes benefits from state‑administered base work. Several councilmembers asked staff to post a transparent breakdown of CPST projects, budgets and actual costs on the county website, similar to prior ARPA reporting.

On Highway 521 signal timing issues raised by residents, Cato said traffic signal coordination is the South Carolina Department of Transportation’s responsibility and that the county does not control state signals. He said staff can communicate with SCDOT about potential studies of signal optimization.

What happens next: County staff agreed to provide a public, itemized accounting of capital sales tax projects (original estimates and actual costs) and to share additional detail on state vs. county road splits and DOT‑administered work.