Interstate 95 in South Carolina

This article is about the section of Interstate 95 in South Carolina. For the entire route, see Interstate 95.

Interstate 95 marker

Interstate 95
Route information
Maintained by SCDOT
Length: 198.8 mi[1] (319.9 km)
Existed: 1968 – present
Major junctions
South end: I95 at the Georgia line near Hardeeville
  I-26 near Bowman
I-20 / I-20 Bus. in Florence
North end: I95 at the North Carolina line near Rowland, NC
Location
Counties: Jasper, Hampton, Colleton, Orangeburg, Clarendon, Dorchester, Sumter, Florence, Darlington, Marlboro, Dillon
Highway system
SC 93SC 97

Interstate 95 is a major Interstate Highway, running along the East Coast of the United States from Florida to Maine. In South Carolina, I-95 runs approximately parallel to the Atlantic Ocean shore although about 50 miles (80 km) inland, from Hardeeville in the south to Dillon in the northeast. The route runs through the major cities of Florence and Walterboro.

Route description

The southern gateway to I-95 in South Carolina

For the most part, the 198-mile (319 km) drive is fairly benign, passing through the pine forests, farmlands, and blackwater streams and swamps of the Coastal Plain. However, a few landmarks do exist to break up the monotony. Crossing from the south from Georgia just over the Savannah River bridge, motorists are greeted to an elaborate gateway into the state of South Carolina. The Juanita M. White Crosswalk also exists between exits 18 and 21.[2] A flyover on twin high-spans over Lake Marion provides an unexpected scenic break in the center of the highway's length. Moving further north and out of the Palmetto State, the NC state line is prominently marked by the South Of The Border amusement complex at the US 301/501 exit. Local traffic parallel to the interstate uses US 301 from South Of The Border to Santee, US 15 from Santee to Walterboro, and a combination of US 17 and US 17 Alt from Walterboro to the Georgia state line north of Savannah. In addition, Interstate 95 shares a number of concurrencies, or multiplexes, with three of these U.S. Routes at various stretches in South Carolina.

The old US 15-301 bridge runs along the west side of I-95 and is used for recreational purposes.

Services

A welcome sign at the Jasper County Welcome Center

The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) operate and maintain three welcome centers and five rest areas along I-95. Welcome centers, which have a travel information facility on site, are located at mile markers 4 (northbound), 99 (southbound) and 195 (southbound); rest areas are located at mile markers 47 (north and southbound), 99 (northbound) and 139 (north and southbound). Common at all locations are public restrooms, public telephones, vending machines, picnic area and barbecue grills.[3]

The South Carolina Department of Public Safety (SCDPS) and State Transport Police (STP) operate and maintain one truck inspection/weigh station, located northbound at mile marker 74. The location utilizes weigh-in-motion that does not require commercial motor vehicles to leave the freeway to be weighed. An inspection shed and pit are also on site, where full-service inspections are performed for flagged and randomly picked trucks.[4]

Several parking area locations are also found along I-95; these were either formally rest areas or weigh stations that were converted. The parking areas offer no amenities and some are even restricted for commercial motor vehicles only.

Dedicated and memorial names

Interstate 95 in South Carolina feature numerous dedicated or memorialized bridges, interchanges and stretches of freeway.

History

I- 95 bridge-causeway over Lake Marion at Santee; the old (bypassed road) bridge-causeway is used as fishing pier.

Interstate 95 first appeared on state maps between 1962-1964, with construction from US 17 north of Hardeeville to Ridgeland. By 1967, more sections were under construction, including Pocotaligo to Walterboro and Santee to the North Carolina state line. The first section to officially open happened in 1968, from SC 527, near Gable, to SC 9/SC 57, in Dillon.

In 1971-1972, more sections of Interstate 95 was completed: Going north from SC 9/SC 57, in Dillon, to the North Carolina state line. Going south from SC 527, near Gable, along the recently completed 1968-built Lake Marion bridge, to US 321 Connector, in Santee (exit 97).[12] Also part of US 17 between Ridgeland (exit 22) to near Yemassee (exit 33) was combined with Interstate 95, with temporary status through Coosawhatchie; Interstate 95 then continued on new freeway north to SC 63, in Walterboro.

By 1975, Interstate 95 was open continuously from US 17, in Hardeeville, to SC 63, in Walterboro; temporary exits were removed around Coosawhatchie. In 1976, the two sections of Interstate 95 were connected, from SC 63, in Walterboro, to US 321 Connector, in Santee (exit 97). In same year, exit numbers were added along Interstate 95. The last section of Interstate 95 was completed in 1978, connecting US 17, in Hardeeville, south to the Georgia state line.

In 1990, exit 21 was added, for what was then US 278, now SC 336. Between 1998-2000, exit 153, Honda Way, was added. In 2003, Interstate 95 was widened to six lanes from just south of Interstate 20 to north of SC 327, around Florence.[13]

Future

Various small projects along the route are scheduled to fix various intersections and replace bridges along route, but no major projects scheduled. Discussions of possibly converting Interstate 95 into a toll road have met with resistance, especially within SCDOT; however if both North Carolina and Georgia changed Interstate 95 into a toll road, then they would consider it as well.[14]

Local leaders in Hardeeville are pushing for a new exit 3, at Purrysburg Road, for a proposed RiverPort Business Park. Project is currently still in the planning stage with no time frame or official confirmation from SCDOT at this time.[15][16]

Additionally, community planners in Walterboro have been hinting at the desire for an I-95 business loop between Exits 53 and 57, along SC 63, US ALT 17, US 15, and SC 64.[17]

Exit list

CountyLocationmi[1]kmExitDestinationsNotes
JasperState line0.00.0 I95 south SavannahCrosses over the Savannah River; continuation into Georgia
Hardeeville5.18.25 US 17 to US 321 Hardeeville
8.213.28 US 278 Beaufort, Hilton Head Island, Bluffton, Parris Island
 18.029.018Bees Creek Road Switzerland
Ridgeland20.833.521 SC 336 Ridgeland
22.436.022 US 17 south RidgelandSouth end of US 17 overlap
 28.345.528 SC 462 Coosawhatchie
 33.053.133 US 17 north Charleston, Beaufort, Port RoyalNorth end of US 17 overlap
HamptonYemassee38.261.538 SC 68 Yemassee, Hampton, Varnville
Colleton 42.468.242 US 21 Yemassee, Orangeburg
Walterboro53.686.353
SC 63 to US 17 Alt. Walterboro
To Tuskegee Airmen Monument
57.592.557 SC 64 Walterboro, Lodge
 62.6100.762Road 34
 68.4110.168 SC 61 – Canadays, Branchville
DorchesterEdisto River68.8110.7Bridge over Edisto River
St. George76.7123.477 US 78 St. George, Branchville
 82.3132.482 US 178 Harleyville, Bowman
Orangeburg 85.8138.186 I-26 Charleston, ColumbiaSigned as exits 86A (east) and 86B (west); cloverleaf interchange
 90.5145.690 US 176 Holly Hill, Cameron
 93.0149.793 US 15 Holly Hill
 96.9155.997 US 15 south / US 301 south OrangeburgSouth end of US 15 and US 301 overlap
Santee98.3158.298 SC 6 Eutawville, Santee, ElloreeTo Santee State Park
ClarendonLake Marion99.8160.6Bridge over Santee River/Lake Marion
 102.0164.2102 US 15 north / US 301 north / Road 400 North SanteeNorth end of US 15 and US 301 overlap
Summerton108.2174.1108Road 102 Summerton
 114.7184.6115 US 301 Manning, Summerton
 119.0191.5119 SC 261 (Paxville Highway) Manning, Paxville
 122.1196.5122 US 521 Sumter, Manning, Alcolu
 132.4213.1132 SC 527 – Sardinia, Bishopville, Kingstree
Sumter 135.5218.1135 US 378 Turbeville, Sumter, Lake City
 141.1227.1141 SC 53 / SC 58 ShilohTo Woods Bay State Natural Area
 145.9234.8146 SC 341 Lake City, Lynchburg, Olanta
Florence 149.9241.2150 SC 403 – Sardis, Timmonsville
 153.7247.4153Honda Way Timmonsville
Florence157.5253.5157 US 76 (West Palmetto Street) Florence, Timmonsville
160.7258.6160 I-20 west / I-20 Bus. east (David McLeod Boulevard) Florence, ColumbiaSigned as exits 160A (east) and 160B (west)
 164.4264.6164 US 52 (Lucas Street) Florence, Darlington
Darlington
No major junctions
Florence 169.0272.0169TV Road Quinby, Florence
 170.7274.7170 SC 327 Florence, Marion, Myrtle BeachTo Francis Marion University and Florence Airport
Pee Dee River175.2282.0Bridge over Pee Dee River
Marlboro
No major junctions
Dillon 181.7292.4181 SC 38 Latta, Marion, BennettsvilleSigned as exits 181A (east) and 181B (west)
  I-73Proposed interchange[18][19]
 190.5306.6190 SC 34 Dillon
Dillon193.3311.1193 SC 9 / SC 57 Dillon, Little Rock, BennettsvilleBen Bernanke exit ramp[20]
State line198.8319.91 US 301 / US 501 Rowland, LaurinburgNorth Carolina exit 1 at state line
198.8319.9 I95 north FayettevilleContinuation into North Carolina
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Google (April 7, 2013). "Interstate 95 in South Carolina" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
  2. South Caroline General Assembly 1993-1994(Bill #1355)
  3. "SC Rest Areas Map". South Carolina Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 29, 2014.
  4. "Weigh station opens on Interstate 95; first of kind in Southeast" (Press release). South Carolina Department of Public Safety. February 24, 2012. Retrieved December 29, 2014.
  5. "South Carolina Garden Club - Blue Star Memorial Program". Retrieved November 10, 2013.
  6. "Road dedicated to SC Highway Patrolman". Associated Press (Florence, SC: CarolinaLive.com). October 14, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
  7. "Lance Corporal Jacob Ham, Jr.". Retrieved November 10, 2013.
  8. "Lance Corporal Jacob Ham, Jr., South Carolina Highway Patrol, South Carolina". Retrieved November 10, 2013.
  9. Bill 4102, South Carolina General Assembly, 112th Session, 1997-1998, May 8, 1997
  10. "Lance Corporal Mark Hunter Coates". Retrieved November 10, 2013.
  11. "Trooper Mark Hunter Coates, South Carolina Highway Patrol, South Carolina". Retrieved November 10, 2013.
  12. "I-95 Lake Marion Bridge (Clarendon County, 1968)". Retrieved April 7, 2013.
  13. "Mapmikey's South Carolina Highways Page: Interstate 95". Retrieved April 7, 2013.
  14. Smith, Tim (February 12, 2012). "Tolls on I-95 creeping closer to South Carolina drivers". GreenvilleOnline.com (Greenville, SC). Retrieved February 12, 2012.
  15. Ports Panel Backs Interstate Exit (Hardeeville Today; Riverport, South Carolina)
  16. Saunders, Gwyneth (March 17, 2012). "Exit 3 plan important to future of Hardeeville". Savannah Morning News (Savannah, GA). Retrieved February 7, 2013.
  17. City of Walterboro – I-95 Business Loop Streetscape Corridor
  18. Staff. "Project Status: Northern Project". I-73 Environmental Impact Study. South Carolina Department of Transportation. Retrieved February 7, 2013.
  19. I-73 Northern Map (PDF) (Map). South Carolina Department of Transportation. Latta inset. Retrieved February 7, 2013.
  20. "Next exit: The Bernanke interchange". CNN. Retrieved October 23, 2015.

External links

Route map: Bing / Google

Interstate 95
Previous state:
Georgia
South Carolina Next state:
North Carolina
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