A key recommendation from the newly released Sullivan’s Island resilience plan emphasizes the urgent need to elevate the Ben Sawyer Causeway. This critical route serves as a vital lifeline for hurricane evacuations, emergency vehicles, and commutes to off-island workplaces, making it essential for residents. Protecting this thoroughfare from floodwaters helps create safer living conditions for everyone on the island. The plan proposes raising the approaches on both sides of the drawbridge, even though the bridge itself will stay the same. This strategic elevation and widening will greatly reduce flooding risks during high-water or compound flood events. Furthermore, many other local county roads require the raising of culverts and approach roads to ensure 24-hour access for the communities they serve.
By acting now, we can prevent erosion and avoid the harmful economic consequences of inaction. The upcoming Charleston County Vulnerability Analysis will deliver important insights, pinpointing which county assets are at risk as road conditions worsen. It can help council members make informed decisions about which areas are essential for maintaining continuous access. We must identify and prioritize key road projects that can guarantee a 24-hour accessible road network in the coming decades. These elevation projects can be funded through the 2026 half-cent sales tax, directly connecting essential infrastructure improvements to a local funding source if they are included in the 2026 Referendum.
Fred Palm, of Edisto Island, is a retired professor of oversight and investigations at the John Jay College School of Public Management and a former executive director of the Association of Inspectors General.