In 2009 when Boeing announced that it was locating an assembly plant in South Carolina, it was clear that the corporation would bring 12,000 jobs to South Carolina over the next three years. Boeing announced Thursday that it will locate its new 787 Dreamliner interiors fabrication facility at a North Charleston site 10 miles from the main plant. The main plant is set for completion in the Spring of 2011 and that means thousands of workers will be headed to and from that area on a daily basis. South Carolina Department of Transportation Director Buck Limehouse says that offers a great challenge, to get the roads ready for that kind of traffic flow.
Limehouse says part of the challenge during this economic climate is finding the funds to improve the roads for the new industry. So far the only funds allocated for road projects in the plant area is $5 million from Charleston County set aside out of their half-cent sales tax, specifically to improve a number of intersections near the plant site. Limehouse says with the commitment that the state has made to Boeing he is confident that a workable funding formula will be created for infrastructure improvements.
AUDIO: SCDOT Chmn. Buck Limehouse on Boeing and road improvements 2:04
