News Release

William Hilton Parkway Gateway Corridor Project Update

June 29, 2021

In a continuing effort to achieve a balance between land use and mobility issues along Hilton Head Island's gateway, the Hilton Head Island Town Council convened today to review and discuss local planning and design concepts for the William Hilton Parkway Gateway Corridor Project.

Town Council has hosted a series of special meetings and workshops this year in regards to the project to enhance travel through and bring multiple roadway improvements to the gateway to Hilton Head Island, including its historic Stoney neighborhood.

Hosting the meetings and workshops regularly is part of the continuing dialogue on this project between Town Council, Town staff, representatives of the SC Department of Transportation, key consultants, and MKSK, Inc., the firm providing land planning services to develop a holistic corridor plan for this important initiative.

"Our assignment is to provide a fundamental, technical, and civic-based review of the roadway network and community corridor to eventually establish a collective Town position on a preferred parkway alternative. We want the community to know that we are working towards achieving this," said Hilton Head Island Town Manager Marc Orlando.

The SC Department of Transportation is planning to host a public hearing on the project on July 22, when it will present its environmental assessment and proposed preferred alternative for roadway enhancements and improvements. The community will have an opportunity to review and respond. "As we approach this public hearing, it is critical that we continue to share concepts publicly with Town Council and the community. It's so important to acknowledge that the SCDOT has done a great job evaluating project design alternatives and impacts within the state and federal parameters that they operate within in order to develop the preferred alignment and conceptual design," Orlando said.

"We are pleased with the approach Town staff is using to keep Town Council and the community informed of this important community project, and we are pleased to see options that our consultants are working through," said Hilton Head Island Mayor John McCann. "As a key Town Council priority, we want to ensure our residents that we are working through every minute detail. This project will have a changing and lasting impact on our entire community, and we only have one opportunity to get it right."

Shawn Colin, Senior Advisor to the Town Manager, said the consultants are working with a sense of urgency to review and understand SCDOT's assessment, and identify local needs and community-based solutions. "Together, we will continue to develop and refine concepts and recommendations to share with the Town Council, public, and project partners over the next several weeks," he said.

For more details on the William Hilton Parkway Gateway Corridor Project, visit hiltonheadislandsc.gov.