For the safety of workers who will be involved in the two-year improvements on a 1.2-mile stretch of Boundary Street, the speed limit is being reduced from 40 miles per hour to 35 mph effective Feb. 19.

As part of its efforts to improve safety during such projects, the S.C. Department of Transportation increases speeding fines to $200 and 30 days imprisonment for conviction of speeding in work zones. For the Boundary Street project, the zone is from Neil Road to Ribaut Road and includes some side streets.

When completed, US 21/Boundary Street will consist of two lanes in each direction separated by a raised and landscaped median with a sidewalk on the north shoulder and 10-foot multi-use path on the south shoulder. The intersection of SC 170/ US 21 will be relocated and realigned following the recent demolition of the former Butler used car building.

First Street improvements will include two 11-foot travel lanes and eight-foot on-street parking on both sides of the road beginning at the newly aligned SC 170 intersection to Hogarth Road.

“We have crews working on creating an underground duct bank for utility cables, and in the coming weeks there will be crews relocating water lines on Boundary Street,” said David Coleman, senior project manager for the City of Beaufort. “We want people to drive with extra caution, and lowering the speed limit is one way to encourage safer driving.”