Oconee projects part of a long-range plan

Oconee County projects are included in a long-range transportation plan for the region.  How soon those projects are done depend on funding and priority rankings.  Lance Estep, transportation planner, gave a report Friday to the board of the South Carolina Appalachian Council of Governments.  Estep told 101.7/WGOG NEWS today his office is at work on updating a long-range plan.  Proposed across “A-COG’s” Upstate service area are projects that call for improvements on South Carolina 59; in the vicinity of the Oconee Medical Center; and the Fair Play intersection of SC 59 and 243.  Estep says “A-COG” has been collecting projects from across the region, with the hope that the board of directors will act next month.  The recommendations would go to the state DOT for programming and priorities.  According to Estep, funding constraints limit the scope of the projects.  Although many are small, he stressed, all are important to the safety of the motoring public.