Today, the City of Charleston celebrated the completion of the award-winning Low Battery Restoration Project with a ribbon-cutting ceremony along Murray Boulevard, marking a major milestone in protecting and enhancing the city’s most iconic waterfront access point.
The $71 million project, paid for mostly by the city’s hospitality tax, strengthens nearly 5,000 feet of the historic battery and reinforces the peninsula against rising seas, storm surge, and increasingly intense rainfall. The work was completed under budget and in four phases instead of the five originally anticipated.
The project included major drainage improvements designed to prevent tidal flooding and improve stormwater management. Sustainable materials were used throughout construction, and portions of the original wall were recycled and repurposed into the new roadway.
“The Battery represents our history, our beauty, and our resilience,” said Mayor William Cogswell. “This project reflects our commitment to protecting all three. We are investing in infrastructure that safeguards our peninsula while strengthening one of Charleston’s most treasured public spaces.”
Beyond storm protection, the project significantly enhances the public experience along the waterfront. Improvements include a 12-foot raised promenade, landscaped medians, safer crossings, improved sidewalks, on-street parking, and upgraded pedestrian and ADA access creating a safer, more accessible corridor for residents and visitors.
The Mayor attributed the
Completion of the Low Battery project represents a significant step in the City’s broader effort to strengthen infrastructure around the peninsula and prepare Charleston for the future.