The state Department of Transportation has announced two changes to traffic patterns in the Chapin area as part of the Midlands Connection improvement project ongoing on a 16-mile stretch of Interstate 26.

The eastbound exit ramp for Exit 91 (Columbia Avenue) went to a new temporary alignment Nov. 2. 

“All traffic will be moved to this new temporary alignment and the old eastbound exit ramp will be closed,” the Midlands Connection website explains. “The entrance off I-26 Eastbound to the temporary exit ramp will be approximately 500 feet prior to the existing closed exit ramp. The temporary ramp will tie into Columbia Ave near Zaxby’s and Bojangles, where traffic will be able to turn left or right.”

DOT also announced a lane shift coming to the same area.

“The traffic shift will begin near Mile Marker 83 and end near Mile Marker 91 before the Chapin Exit,” the website states. “Both eastbound travel lanes will be shifted to the right onto the newly constructed concrete pavement. Traffic shifts will occur throughout the project area until major project construction completion in 2024.” — Jordan Lawrence

Coalition Pushes Penny Tax Ahead of Election Day

With a week to go until election day, business and community leaders showed their support for the Capital Projects Sales Tax referendum at a press conference near one of the busiest intersections in the county.

The Nov. 1 conference was held to urge voters to support the 1% sales tax to fund road improvements in the county. The estimated $536 million earned from this tax across eight years will go to projects in four categories: road repairs, paving dirt roads, repairing bridges, and infrastructure. A list of these projects can be found at lexingtoncountycpst.com.

Representatives for the initiative Vote Yes for Roads were set up near the intersection of Two Notch Road and Longs Pond Road, which according to Angelle LaBorde, president and CEO of the Lexington Chamber and Visitors Center, is one of the busiest in Lexington County.

LaBorde was joined at the press conference by Steve Cohen, owner of Home Concepts Too, who said the tax is the most efficient way to fix county roads. Cohen also mentioned that fixing the roads will decrease travel time and eliminate some damage done to cars.

Backers of Vote Yes for Roads also include the Batesburg-Leesville Chamber of Commerce, Greater Cayce-West Columbia Chamber of Commerce, the Irmo Chamber of Commerce, 1Voice Lexington County, and the Lexington County Development Corporation.

“If not now, when? Let's invest in our community. Let's do it right now. We have an opportunity on Nov. 8. Let's fix our roads in Lexington County.” LaBorde said. — Kailee Kokes

17-Year-Old Shooter Triggers Secure Protocol at Pelion Schools

The Lexington County Sheriff’s Department searched for and eventually found a suspected gunman Oct. 27 near Lawson Road, in the vicinity of Leesville and Pelion.

“One man was shot shortly before noon,” the department posted to social media a little after 1:30 p.m. “He has been taken to the hospital.”

The department later posted that it had located and detained the suspected shooter a little after 2:30 p.m. That evening, the department posted that the accused shooter is 17 and that he stands charged with second-degree assault and battery and pointing and presenting a firearm. He was referred to the state Department of Juvenile Justice.

The victim was expected to recover, according to the sheriff’s department.

The department clarified that the shooting was unrelated to any Pelion school, though schools in the area went secure as a precaution.

“This afternoon, at the request of law enforcement due to a situation in the Pelion area, Forts Pond Elementary, Pelion Elementary, Pelion Middle and Pelion High were placed in secure (formally known as lockout) out of an abundance of caution,” Megan Moore, communications director for Lexington County School District 1 told the Chronicle, told the Chronicle, sharing messages sent to families explaining the situation. 

“During the secure/lockout, operations inside the building continued, and students continued to learn safely.”  — Jordan Lawrence