JAMES ISLAND, S.C. (WCBD) -- After years of working to improve safety at the intersection of Woodland Shores and Maybank Highway, Charleston County will be adding a sidewalk and mid-block crossing to the site. This project has been in the works for years after in 2019 resident David Massey lost his life trying to cross the highway and in 2023 resident Jennifer Drummond was left seriously injured after a hit and run on the road. Since then, Charleston County Council has been working on improving safety in the area. They received a federal grant to finance the mid-block crossing project, which will help provide safe access for pedestrians. "The business community has been concerned about putting in medians that would affect the ability to turn left from the median but what we realized is important to limit that left turn mobility if the drivers are going to come into contact with pedestrians and so while there is some trade off you'll see in many areas in our community there are a lot of mid-block crossings with medians it is absolutely the safest approach," said Councilmember Jenny Honeycutt. Residents say the new sidewalks and crossing are necessary. They hope the county council will take into consideration water runoff for their project. "I'm worried a ditch as ugly and unsightly as they are does work. Water will get into it and it does at least hold when you put the sidewalk down. My concern is if we're not keeping up with keeping the catch basins clean, we're going to not have water going anywhere and it can go into your yard," said James Friend. Councilmember Honeycutt says she hopes this project will prevent future tragedies. "It's a good feeling but also one that makes me reflect on tragedies in our community that we want to prevent in the future and so while its a special day my heart goes out to the Massey family still 6 years later," said Honeycutt. Charleston county council will decide Thursday night which construction company to award the contract to and expect to break ground in the next 6 weeks.