About

The proposed Airport Connector Road project (ACR) involves constructing a new access roadway to the Charleston International Airport. This new five-line road will help to alleviate traffic congestion caused by commuter traffic, airport-destined traffic, Boeing traffic, and general development traffic associated with the North Charleston Coliseum/Performing Arts Center, and Centre Pointe. In addition, ACR will provide additional traffic capacity for economic growth in the project area.

The ACR project originally kicked off in 2013, but went on hold in the summer of 2015 due to issues involving the use of land in the “clear zone” at the end of the runways controlled by Joint Base Charleston. Clear zones are the space at the end of a runway that require restricted use to ensure safety. In order to avoid constructing the ACR within the clear zone, Charleston County was considering alignments that would bisect Boeing property.

Recently, the Charleston County Aviation Authority (CCAA) and Boeing negotiated a land swap. This change would allow the County to consider alternatives for ACR that would bypass the clear zone, while ensuring the greatest economic advantage for future development in the area.

The ACR goals include:

  • Providing a new roadway entrance to Charleston International Airport.

  • Implementing capacity improvements to reduce traffic congestion in the project area and help reduce delays for residents, commuters and airport traffic.

  • Expanding traffic capacity to allow for economic growth in the project area.

Before the project went on hold in 2015, the Project Team studied several variations of the new road alignment. The project ream reevaluated the previously considered alternatives, along with new options, during the renewed alternative analysis portion of this project. After extensive analysis, agency reviews, and public and stakeholder involvement, a recommended preferred alternative was identified, and the environmental assessment (EA) was approved by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in May 2024. You may view the approved EA under the NEPA tab.