Camp Hall Project Is Moving Along

Palmetto Railways

CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Camp Hall Rail project is in phase two of five in South Carolina. The project is still expected to be completed by the end of 2026.

RT&S reported in April 2024 that construction had begun. According to Charleston Regional Business Journal, the Camp Hall Rail project is now in phase two. The project is headed by both Palmetto Railways and Santee Cooper and is broken down into five phases of development. Kiewit construction is leading phase two. With each phase, construction companies will bid to procure leading the next phase.

Below is a refresher on the five phases: 

PHASE 1

• Nearing completion, this phase began at the Volvo Cars facility in the Camp Hall Commerce Park. 

PHASE 2

• Phase 2 will connect to the existing Santee Cooper-owned railroad track and subsequently connect the Camp Hall Rail Line to the existing CSX network near Santee Cooper Cross Generating Station.
• It includes connecting to an existing track south of Springwood Road.
• Installing track next to existing track and moving south toward a future interchange yard.
• It also includes an at-grade crossing at Viper Road that will have lights and gates. It will be constructed with local and Santee Cooper representatives to ensure there will be access to Generating Stations and other neighborhoods during construction.
• Track moving south will be raised to cross the Diversion Canal between Lake Marion and Lake Moultrie to provide boat clearance in the canal.
• Phase 2 will conclude before the Ranger Road at-grade crossing. 

PHASE 3

• This includes installing track at the Ranger Road at-grade crossing.
• Installed track will continue west and south and cross Old Highway 6 and Shortcut Road.
• There will be community coordination regarding the scheduled road crossings. Only one road crossing will be detoured at a time “to limit the impacts on local traffic in the area.”

PHASE 4

• Phase 4 consists of installing track south toward Highway 176 through existing silviculture lands.
• In addition, there will be at-grade crossings at SR 31 and Mudville Road.
• Similarly to phase 3, there will be community coordination regarding scheduled road crossings.

PHASE 5

• The final phase will connect the proposed track to the section of track in the Camp Hall Commerce Park that was completed in the first phase.
• There will be two at-grade crossings on Highway 176 and Volvo Car Drive. Additionally, construction of the Highway 176 grade crossing will be scheduled to not interfere with potential evacuations during hurricane season.

According to Palmetto Railways, phase three of construction is anticipated to start this fall.