Patrick Sadek, P.E., (843) 467-8478, (980) 339-3013, psadek@aestheticconceptsus.com
"Complete Street"
Ocean Blvd., Myrtle Beach SC:
A four to three-lane conversion: Four lanes of traffic were reconfigured to two auto lanes, two bike lanes & two-way center lane. landscaped medians, improved sidewalk, and safe pedestrian crossings were installed.
Before
After
Designed by Patrick Sadek, P.E.
Key Outcomes: Improved Street Life: The street redesign led to a safer. more pleasant environment. It added frequent protected median crossings so people now feel comfortable walking from one side of the street to the other. Lower Speed: Though the speed limit did't change, drivers on the street now tend to travel at 15 mph, which has led to less noise and vibrations for hotel guests along the corridor. At the same time, bicycle, transit and walking counts increased.
Decline in crashes: Collisions along the corridor dropped 400% after the redesign. Car to car crashes resulting from lane changes and rear ending were quiet high before, as were car to pedestrian collisions. After the redesign, car crashes dropped significantly and accident were less sever. Pedestrian-related crashes vanished. Bicycle collisions, virtually non-existent before the redesign, did increase modestly, though this likely due to the significant increase in cyclist using the street.
Bicycle Lanes
Parallel to the Ocean