Charleston County Council Chairman Teddie Pryor said today he will ask council to rescind its decision opposing the $489 million I-526 project over James and Johns islands. Pryor said he will postpone council consideration of his alternative plan to build a smaller version of the road on Johns Island from Savannah Highway to Maybank Highway. He said there will be an executive session to discuss getting the county out of default on its $11.6 million loan for the project from the South Carolina Transportation Infrastructure Bank. In order to do that, it would have to proceed with the highway, he said. “I think we need to get out of default and get this thing (I-526) completed and moved forward,” he said. Pryor said he heard from council members who said they needed time to consider his new plan. As originally designed, the I-526 connector would go from Folly Road to Savannah Highway. The county has spent the $11.6 million on engineering, environmental studies and land acquisition. Under its contract with the bank, the money must be returned if I-526 is not built. On Thursday, the bank gave the county 60 days to re-pay the funds. Pryor said he worried that county employees would suffer because layoffs would be required to balance the budget and pay back the loan. The issue will be discussed at a 4:30 p.m. meeting of the Council Finance Committee at the Lonnie Hamilton III Public Services Building, 4045 Bridge View Drive in North Charleston.

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