Quarry wins legal round in drive to open in Lexington County

Plans for a quarry in western Lexington County moved another step forward with a court ruling to close a road through the center of the 550-acre site.

Nearby residents opposed closing a one-mile segment of Stutman Road in hopes of frustrating the bid of Vulcan Materials Company to open the stone mine in 2017.

The closing allows mining to be centralized on the site and reduces danger to motorists in the area, company officials say.

“We renew our offer and intention to work with neighbors” to minimize noise, dust, traffic and other concerns, said Vulcan vice-president Elliott Botzis, who oversees 11 quarries in South Carolina.

Vulcan is seeking the go-ahead from state officials to open the quarry midway between Batesburg-Leesville and Gilbert as an eventual replacement for its 125-year-old mine in the Olympia area near Columbia.

It will produce crushed stone used mainly in concrete and asphalt for residential and commercial development, company officials say.

This story was originally published April 7, 2016 at 12:46 PM with the headline "Quarry wins legal round in drive to open in Lexington County."