FLORENCE, S.C. (WPDE) — Florence food truck park owners are complaining that road construction is hurting their business.
Kaylea and Wade Holt have owned ‘Eats On the Creek’ at the corner of Holly Circle and West Palmetto Street in Florence for nearly a year.
The Holts have a food truck business and wanted a hub where other vendors could gather.
That was the whole reason we bought this place.,” said Kaylea Holt. “We wanted to create a place run by vendors, because we know what they need.
The Holts said from March through December is their peak season, but right now their business is down, and they said it has to do with road construction on Holly Circle.
SCDOT released the following information about the project:
The South Carolina Department of Transportation will close and detour Holly Circle in Florence County for roadway improvements beginning May 29. This closure is expected to last until November.
As part of this closure, a signed detour route will be set up.
A map of the detour can be found below. Please note that Holly Circle will be open to local traffic only.
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SCDOT asks that drivers slow down and pay attention when driving near the work zone.
The overview of the project reads:
The proposed improvements will widen and flatten the curve on Holly Circle Road, provide turn lanes, and a new traffic signal at the 2nd Loop Road intersection. The addition of sidewalks will also be included for this project. The purpose and need is to improve operations at both the intersections of Holly Circle at US 76 and Holly Circle at SC 51. The secondary purpose is to correct geometric and the horizontal curve on Holly Circle.
The Holts said they understand the importance and need for the construction project, but were totally caught off guard by it.
We didn’t know this happening until signs started showing up,” they said. “And we saw the sign that said Holly Circle closed. And so there was no communication. There was no communication.
She said business went down 50% the first week of construction and then another 64% the following week.
The owners said people are confused as to if Holly Circle is open because of the signs that read “Road Closed to Thru Traffic” and “Detour.”
The portion where Holly Circle meets West Palmetto is open, but is closed at the intersection of Second Loop Road.
They have no access. I recognize West Palmetto Street is open, but when you’re asking someone to reroute their entire way just to get here. And they’re passing all these other places, that are way more convenient to get into it. Makes it hard for them to come all the way back around. And add seven minutes to their commute. DOT has got to do a better job of communicating with us. And creating ease of access to this place that that has been here for several years. We’re vendors are relying on the Traffic. To sustain them.
They have a lot of questions regarding the timing of the project.
Our question why couldn’t this have been a night? Why couldn’t this have been a night project,” said Wade Holt. “And they can’t seem to answer that question.
Kaylea questioned why officials chose this time of year to do this construction.
Why do we choose this time of year to start? Why did we not be a night project?” said Kaylea. “Why were the local business owners not communicated with with? Why were there no conversations? This is the only open business on this road. They did not take that into consideration. There are several questions that we just want to answers to. I don’t want excuses. If the answer is a hard answer and it’s not a likable one. It’s still an answer. We just want some communication and some conversation about it. So, that we don’t go from now until the end of the year suffering.
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ABC 15 reached out to SCDOT regarding the business owners’ concerns.
The department said the road closed signs that are on the shoulder of Holly Circle at the intersection of US 76 (Palmetto Street) read, “Road Closed to Thru Traffic,” meaning the road is open to local traffic and drivers going to the food truck court are free to do so. The signs are part of our traffic control plan.
SCDOT said the roadwork is being done during the day because it has been deemed the safest and most efficient option.
Officials said there was a community meeting that was held on Sep.14, 2023, that alerted community members of the project, and a press release that was sent out a week before construction began.
The release stated the road was open to local traffic and included a map.
ABC 15 also found information on SCDOT’s website that was shared two years ago, showing information about the project and its purpose.
There was also a comment period on the project from Aug. 31, 2023 until Sep. 28, 2023.
The Holts said at the time SCDOT released all the information, they didn’t own the business.
They’re asking the community to continue to support businesses in the food truck park.
As a community, we’ve got to bind together to support these local businesses, who are here for a reason. You know, this community wasn’t built on the Walmarts of the world,” said Kaylea. It was built on the small mom and pop businesses. And then they forged a path, for the Walmarts of the world to come in.
The project is listed on SCDOT’s website to last 12 through 18 months.
