Highway hazard abatement project began being installed at deadly Pelion area intersection Thursday

Pelion, SC 05/30/2024 (Paul Kirby) – The SC Department of Transportation and Lexington County began installing new, striping, signage, and other methods to improve the safety of the intersection of Fairview Road (US Hwy 178) and Bub Shumpert Road just north of the Town of Pelion, SC. This intersection has been the location of many deadly crashes over the years including one that happened about a week ago.

According to SC Senator Katrina Shealy, larger stop signs and stop ahead signs were installed today, Thursday, May 30, 2024. There were also large reflective stripes installed on the post of each of the signs for added awareness. New painted features indicating the need to stop will also be added to the asphalt road surface soon. These should also help in calling the drivers attention to the need to stop ahead. That portion of the project is being coordinated with the SCDOT and should be completed soon.

In the past, some have called for a complete traffic signal to be installed at that intersection. When that was proposed at a similar intersection near South Congaree several years ago, the SCDOT’s chief engineer explained that installing a traffic signal doesn’t often stop collisions. Instead, the new signal might alleviate some side impact crashes, but increase rear end crashes. The safest intersection is by far a roundabout, but there simply isn’t enough traffic on Bub Shumpert or D.E. Clark Roads to install one of these.

All of these are being done so that we can cut down on the serious and deadly crashes at that intersection. Other things that are being considered include a flashing light over the intersection that would blink yellow in the Fairview Road direction and red in the Bub Shumpert and D.E. Clark directions. Flashing red lights could also be added to the Stop Ahead signs on the two cross streets.

If you live in that area and use either Bub Shumpert Road or D.E. Clark Road, please make all the drivers in your household aware of the new safety systems on those roads. If you drive through the intersection on Fairview Road, always slow down when you approach this or any other intersection so that you are driving in a defensive manner. All of this can help you make it back to you loved ones each day.