Boasting scenic landscapes, plentiful outdoor recreation, and small-town warmth, Blythewood also happens to be one of Richland County’s fastest-growing areas. The “spirit of progress” here is alive and thriving with new businesses, neighborhoods and employment opportunities. The Transportation Penny is helping to keep Blythewood a great place to live and work by funding infrastructure projects to support growth while maintaining ease and safety of travel for residents and visitors.

The latest Penny project is the construction of a new single-lane roundabout at the intersection of Blythewood and Community roads, and also at the entrance and exit of Cobblestone Park Golf Club. Roundabouts lessen congestion and enhance safety for motorists. These upgrades are part of a major road-widening project in the area.

Advantages of a traffic roundabout

A modernized traffic roundaboutprovides several key advantages over traditional signalized intersections or four-way stops. Some benefits include:

Improved Safety
Roundabouts eliminate head-on and right-angle (T-bone) collisions, the most dangerous type of crashes, and roundabouts’ structure forces vehicles to travel more slowly, reducing crash severity. Additionally, drivers need only look in one direction (left) to enter safely.

Better Flow, Less Congestion
Unlike traffic signals, vehicles usually don’t have to stop completely, which helps keep traffic moving. Because there are no traffic signals or cross-traffic, drivers don’t waste time at red lights. There is a cost-saving aspect, too; reduced idling and stop-and-go traffic lower fuel consumption and vehicle wear.

Preserving Lifestyle
Neighborhood livability is also a result of slower, steadier driving, which roundabouts encourage. When designed properly for traffic volume and vehicle types, roundabouts are safer, more efficient, and more sustainable than traditional intersections.

The estimated budget for the Blythewood Road widening project (I-77 to Syrup Mill Road), which includes the roundabout, is $11 million and entirely funded by your Transportation Penny. The project is scheduled for completion in late 2025.