Isle of Palms wraps up phase 3 of 41st Avenue drainage project

ISLE OF PALMS, S.C. (WCBD)–Residents on the Isle of Palms are no strangers to flooding, with roads often blocked off after high tides and even minor storms, but officials on the island are working to change that.

The town just completed phase three of a major drainage project to mitigate flooding on the island.

Council members on the Isle of Palms are excited about the new infrastructure on the island’s north side. They said it will bring significant improvements to flood-prone areas.

“We’re very excited on the island. We finished the third phase of the drainage project, which included culverts at 30th Ave., 36th Ave., and 41st Ave. It is allowing us to take the water that historically has collected in the middle of the island, the Forest Trail area, and get that out to the intercoastal waterway,” said Blair Hahn, a council member for the Isle of Palms.

The project is just one element of a plan to improve the island’s resiliency, safety, and quality of life. 

“ We must get the water off our roads, out of our backyards, and into the intercostal waterway.” 

While many residents are hopeful about the improvements, some believe much more work is needed.

“One solution I’d like to recommend before we pay gazillions of dollars to pop water uphill is to put the ditch back, which might please some people who have the mega-mansions on the beach side because they won’t be able to park anymore with the ditch there,” said Edwin Boyle, an Isle of Palms resident.

Officials will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of the third phase on Wednesday, August 7, beginning at 10 a.m. at the end of 41st Street across from the Mariana.