SCDOT to launch I-85 corridor study to address congestion and safety in Upstate South Carolina
Key Takeaways
- SCDOT plans to begin a 35-mile I-85 corridor study in 2026 to address congestion and safety in Upstate South Carolina.
- The study will evaluate 18 interchanges and major connecting roadways between Anderson and Spartanburg.
- Public input is required to amend the state’s transportation improvement program, with comments due by Dec. 26.
The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) will initiate a comprehensive transportation study on Interstate 85 in 2026 to address growing traffic congestion, safety concerns and mobility challenges in the Upstate region.
According to an SCDOT press release, the study is intended to identify long-term transportation improvements for the Anderson-Greenville-Spartanburg corridor by evaluating potential solutions for improved traffic and roadway safety.
The study will examine 35 miles of I-85, stretching from U.S. Highway 29 at Exit 24 to S.C. Highway 85 at Exit 69, and will include 18 interchanges, along with major intersecting roadways that influence interstate operations, according to Greenville Journal.
SCDOT said the effort will rely on traffic analysis and modeling of current and future conditions, combined with input from transportation stakeholders and the public, to narrow down potential improvement strategies.
The transportation study will be conducted in partnership with the Spartanburg Area Transportation Study, Greenville-Pickens Area Transportation Study, Appalachian Council of Governments, Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport and the South Carolina Ports Authority, according to the release.
SCDOT is seeking public input as the agency works to amend the 2024-2033 Transportation Improvement Program to include the new study. The public comment period closes on Dec. 26, according to the department.
Sources: SCDOT, Greenville Journal