Major infrastructure projects are underway or planned across the city of Greenville.
The city has received approximately $24 million from the state of South Carolina for several infrastructure and public-safety projects. This funding was allocated to the city in the state budgets for fiscal years 2023-24 and 2024-25.
Greenville City Council received an update on the state-funded infrastructure projects during a Feb. 24 work session. Here is a look at where those projects currently stand.
Wade Hampton corridor
Rendering by the city of Greenville and AECOM.Improvements to Wade Hampton Boulevard will begin this summer. Phase 1 will include realigning White Oak Road and Bradley Boulevard to slow drivers and discourage cut-through traffic off the corridor.
Nick DePalma, assistant city engineer for capital projects, said the city is 30% complete with the designs for Phase 2 of the project. Several improvements will be completed during phases 2 and 3, such as adding reduced-conflict intersections, a road diet, enhanced landscaping and other multimodal enhancements.
Phase 2 of construction is expected to begin in 2026. The total cost for the Wade Hampton Boulevard project is estimated to be $2.3 million.
Cultural Corridor and Academy Bypass
Construction is underway on the Cultural Corridor and Academy Bypass in downtown Greenville. The $6 million project will be completed in May.
The Cultural Corridor aims to provide direct access from Main Street to Heritage Green. The number of travel lanes on College Street was reduced to expand the public space and sidewalks. Landscaping lighting and artistic way-finding details were also added along the corridor.
Pedestrian Safety Action Plan
The city has completed Phase 1 of the Pedestrian Safety Action Plan. The citywide plan focuses on installing ADA ramps, high-visibility crosswalks, signage and other safety enhancements.
Phase 1 of the $2.5 million project included all school zones and some of the city’s major corridors including Laurens Road and Pleasantburg Drive. Construction of Phase 2, which focuses on Academy Street, Pete Hollis Boulevard and other roadways, begins in March.
East North streetscape
Rendering provided by city of GreenvilleEast North Street will soon undergo a streetscape-enhancement project to improve pedestrian safety and traffic flow on the corridor. The $2.87 million project will focus on the area in front of the Bon Secours Wellness Arena and the upcoming mixed-use development at 250 N. Church St.
Designs for the project are 95% complete and include a road diet with wider sidewalks, landscaping and pedestrian-level lighting. Thirty-six canopy trees are planned to be added along the corridor. The project’s eight-month construction timeline will be completed by December.
Pendleton Street road diet
Construction will begin in March on the road diet planned along Pendleton Street between South Main and Academy streets. The lane reduction will allow the city to add protected bike lanes on both sides of the road.
In addition, the intersection at Pendleton and Vardry streets will be realigned, and high-visibility crosswalks will be added. A traffic signal will be added at the Pendleton Street and Textile Street intersection. A portion of Pendleton Street will also be resurfaced.
DePalma said designs have been completed for the $1.3 million project and the construction contract has been awarded.
Queen Street bridge
Queen Street bridge was constructed in 1927 and crosses over the Norfolk Southern rail line. It serves as a key connection between the Southernside and West End neighborhoods. Photo by Megan FitzgeraldThe city is spearheading the effort to replace the deteriorating Queen Street bridge owned by the Norfolk Southern rail line. The bridge was constructed in 1927 and provides a direct connection between the Southernside and West Greenville neighborhoods.
DePalma said conceptual design plans for the bridge are substantially done. The next steps will be to secure funding to finalize the project’s design, move forward with permitting and eventually start construction.
Read more about the Queen Street bridge project
Augusta Street undergrounding
Photo by Megan FitzgeraldThe overhead utilities on Augusta Street between Cateechee Avenue and Faris Road will be moved underground. The $5.5 million, state-funded project aims to improve traffic safety and the reliability of the utility services.
Construction is expected to begin this summer and take a year to complete. DePalma said right-of-way negotiations are currently underway.
Stone Avenue corridor
A traffic analysis and roadway safety audit for Stone Avenue identified several proposed improvements to the corridor. For example, a pedestrian hybrid beacon traffic signal was needed at the intersection of Stone and Wilton streets. This project is currently underway.
DePalma said pedestrian and street-level lighting will also be added along the corridor using gasoline tax funds (C-funds). Designs are being currently completed for this project.
Verdae bridge
Verdae Bridge rendering provided by city of GreenvilleThe city is wrapping up the design process for the pedestrian bridge over Verdae Boulevard. The bridge would connect the Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail Green Line to a new trail extension toward the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research. The city plans to begin the bidding process for the project soon.
Construction of the $4.5 million project will begin in the spring or early summer. The state has earmarked $2.25 million for the project. The pedestrian bridge is hoped to be completed by the second quarter of 2026.
