News Summary
The Interstate 85 widening project in Spartanburg and Cherokee counties is nearing completion, with an expected finish by 2025. The project aims to expand the highway from four to six lanes to enhance traffic flow and alleviate congestion in a critical transportation corridor. With a budget of approximately $480 million, funding has been sourced from various federal and state contributions. Key upgrades will improve interchanges and overall infrastructure efficiency, promoting economic development in the region.
Spartanburg, SC – The widening project of Interstate 85 in Spartanburg and Cherokee counties is making significant strides, with completion expected by 2025. The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) has been working on this extensive project since 2017, which will enhance a critical transportation corridor stretching over 20 miles.
The total budget for the I-85 widening project is approximately $480 million. This substantial investment focuses on reconstructing and expanding the interstate from four lanes to six lanes between Spartanburg County and the Broad River Bridge. Key upgrades also include improvements to interchanges located at Battleground Road, Green River Road, Pleasant School Road, and Shelby Highway.
Funding for the project has been sourced from a combination of federal and state gas taxes, contributions from the S.C. Transportation Infrastructure Bank, and allocations from the S.C. General Assembly, illustrating a collaborative effort to improve regional infrastructure.
Notably, the segment of Interstate 85 in Cherokee County leading up to the North Carolina state line has already been expanded to three lanes in each direction, demonstrating progress towards larger goals of transportation efficiency. As part of the ongoing updates, a new CSX railroad bridge has also been constructed to facilitate better rail and vehicular traffic flow over the interstate.
Nearly half of the overall project costs have been dedicated to concrete paving and asphalt work, with specific reconstruction involving six lanes of pavement from mile marker 77 to mile marker 80, along with an additional lane in each direction from mile marker 80 to 98. Current efforts focus on completing the final asphalt surface paving on the upper portion of the southbound lanes of I-85, as well as the installation of final pavement markings. The project also included the replacement of the Sunny Slope Drive bridge located over the interstate.
While most construction is nearing completion, work on Dewberry Road at the CSX Railroad Bridge remains pending. Upcoming final paving on the southbound lanes will occur overnight in the approaching weeks, designed to minimize disruptions to daily traffic.
The overarching goal of the widening project is to alleviate traffic congestion by increasing the number of available lanes for vehicles traveling through this vital region. Traffic counts indicate that vehicle volumes in Cherokee County have risen substantially, from about 66,000 per day when the interstate had only four lanes. This surge in traffic is partly a result of businesses such as Dollar Tree and DHL establishing distribution centers in the area, influenced by the expected completion of the project.
Additonally, the enhancements to I-85 are attracting further interest from prospective companies that seek infrastructure improvements aligning with their operational requirements near major interstates. The local community, along with regional officials, has thus welcomed the nearing completion of the widening project, with optimism surrounding improved transportation efficiency and its implications for the economic development of Spartanburg and Cherokee counties.
As the project progresses, stakeholders continue to anticipate that the completion of the widened interstate, alongside its associated upgrades, will create a positive impact on the movement of goods and services within the region.
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Additional Resources
- Post and Courier: I-85 Widening in Spartanburg and Cherokee Counties
- Wikipedia: Interstate 85
- Fox Carolina: Major Traffic Shift on I-85
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Traffic
- Greenville Online: SCDOT Shelves Widening Plan
- Google Search: I-85 Widening Project Spartanburg
- WSPA: I-85 Rewidening Project Postponed
- Google News: I-85 Construction Cherokee County
Author: STAFF HERE SPARTANBURG
The SPARTANBURG STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERESpartanburg.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Spartanburg, Spartanburg County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Spartanburg International Festival, Spartanburg ArtWalk, and motorsport events at Spartanburg Speedway. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce and the Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System Foundation, plus leading businesses in manufacturing and textiles that power the local economy such as BMW Manufacturing and Milliken & Company. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAiken.com, HEREBeaufort.com, HEREChapin.com, HERECharleston.com, HEREClinton.com, HEREColumbia.com, HEREGeorgetown.com, HEREGreenwood.com, HEREGreenville.com, HEREHiltonHead.com, HEREIrmo.com, HEREMyrtleBeach.com, HERENewberry.com, HERERockHill.com, and HERESpartanburg.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into South Carolina's dynamic landscape.
