Grand Opening

Lexington Quarry Opens for Business

Joined by over 150 neighbors, stakeholders and customers, Vulcan’s Southeast Division celebrated the grand opening of its new aggregates quarry in Lexington County, South Carolina by hosting an open house.

The open house welcomed members of the community into the facility where they met with the Vulcan team and asked questions. Those who attended were able to take a tour of the quarry, look at equipment, learn how Vulcan uses science and technology in our daily operation and enjoy a free lunch in the pop-up Quarry Café.

The brand-new facility was designed with the community in mind, incorporating feedback from neighbors and stakeholders. The Lexington team took steps to enlarge buffer areas, route traffic away from local roadways and implement additional features that go above and beyond protecting nearby property and the environment.

Vulcan Materials Company Sales Representative David Dorroh answers attendees’ questions after leading a bus tour. 

“We worked with our neighbors and improved the plan based on their feedback,” said Elliott Botzis, Vice President and General Manager of Vulcan Materials in South Carolina. “The result is an industry-leading facility that will safely and responsibly supply the growing market with high-quality construction aggregates. Together we’ve built an important economic engine that will help build and strengthen the local economy for decades to come.”

The granite quarry comprises 553 acres, of which only 131 acres (or 23.6 percent of the land) will be mined. About 200 acres, or approximately one-third of the site, serves as a buffer area between the operations and the property line and features natural landscape and wildlife habitat area.

Robert Thompson and Heath Hannah of Contour Mining, John Oldham of Vulcan Materials Company and Kelvin Washington of Tolleson Engineering sign a commemorative entry road blueprint.

During the planning stages, Vulcan met with neighbors, distributed mailings and held public meetings, which resulted in the following modifications:

• Limiting mining to just 23.6 percent of the 553-acre site.
• Increasing the buffer area to nearly 200 acres.
• Redesigning the site plan to provide for direct access off U.S. Highway 1, which helps manage traffic on local roads.
• Lengthening the distance between the highway and operations to two-thirds of a mile, which includes a paved, private roadway.
• Protecting and preserving a neglected a 19th Century cemetery site and making it more accessible for family and visitors by constructing safe off-street parking, installing security fencing and a building a pathway to the site.

As a new aggregates production facility in the area, the Lexington Quarry will serve as a catalyst for economic growth in Lexington County and will supply building materials for nearby homes, businesses, schools, roads and bridges.

Two young attendees show off their new Vulcan Materials Company “hardhats” in front of a motor grader.