Freeway Systems (Columbia, Charleston, Greenville: tax, cost, transportation)

[BrandonCoombes]

Originally Posted by Carolina Knight

How about extending Interstate 77 from Interstate 26 in Cayce to Bluffton?

Columbia would say no bueno.

[Carolina Knight]

Would you like to be in a traffic jam on Interstate 95 and Interstate 26 from Hardeeville to Columbia during a hurricane or a travel season?

[BrandonCoombes]

Originally Posted by Carolina Knight

Would you like to be in a traffic jam on Interstate 95 and Interstate 26 from Hardeeville to Columbia during a hurricane or a travel season?

Lol, no. I get you. But I usually go to the DC area for vacations.

[Mutiny77]

Originally Posted by Carolina Knight

How about extending Interstate 77 from Interstate 26 in Cayce to Bluffton?

I think converting US Hwy 321 to a limited access highway between Columbia and Hardeeville would be ideal, but I doubt the state would get on board as that would make Savannah's port even more competitive with Charleston's. It could potentially be a boon for Columbia though.

[cjseliga]

Originally Posted by Mutiny77

I think converting US Hwy 321 to a limited access highway between Columbia and Hardeeville would be ideal, but I doubt the state would get on board as that would make Savannah's port even more competitive with Charleston's. It could potentially be a boon for Columbia though.

I know there's been talk of a higher bridge to replace Talmadge in Savannah to be able to accept the biggest cargo ships out there now and make that Georgia port one of the busiest on the east coast.

Both Savannah and Charleston are limited by the 185/186 foot clearance below their respective bridges and with new super cargo ships needing like a 200 foot clearance, that new SC port on the Savannah River, northeast of Savannah, would be able to receive ships with an "unlimited height" due to not having to go under any bridges.

[Jandrew5]

I think SC highways are fine in general, they just need to be widened and the urban areas need new interchanges - cough cough Laurens Rd cloverleaf. Some things I think should happen but probably won't because well, this is SC in general, the US in 2018, or because we've waiting too long and sprawl has gotten in the way:

- A northern loop around Greenville. Greenville's network should look more similar to Greensboro. The placement of 185 just seems so odd.

- A freeway connecting 26 and 77 above 20 in Columbia.

- An outer loop around Charleston and another freeway paralleling 26. Maybe from Florence to Charleston, following US 52.

- A freeway parrellel to 26 going from Anderson/Greenville to Savannah/HHI.

- 20 going all the way to Myrtle Beach

Other than that I don't see what's really needed. Nothing in SC warrants the massive freeways you see around Atlanta or Charlotte, etc. Traffic, especially rush hour traffic, across the state is also overblown around here imo. Also am I the only one that thinks SC's interstate map looks like a bikini?

[Al G]

Originally Posted by Mutiny77

Columbia has the best system with three primary interstates forming a loop around the city plus two spurs.

It's a shame I-95 wasn't routed through Charleston. Deciding on its current route was one of the most boneheaded moves ever.

Agree, 26 should have been just outside of Summerville, but the good ole boy system was at work as usual.
To my understanding Strom Thurman had some property to off load in the present area.

[cjseliga]

Originally Posted by Jandrew5

- 20 going all the way to Myrtle Beach

I think, when and if I-73 is ever constructed, even if it's just from I-95 to SC-22, that could also be signed I-20.

I-73 is supposed to connect to I-95 somewhere between Latta and Sellers, then head southeast toward SC-22. They could easier overlay I-20 onto I-95 between Florence and the new I-73 interchange, then all the way to Myrtle Beach with I-73.

I think that's the only way Myrtle Beach will get I-20, I don't see South Carolina building I-73 and upgrading US-301/76/501 to make an I-20 extension from Florence to Myrtle.

[Ziggy100]

Originally Posted by Al G

Agree, 26 should have been just outside of Summerville, but the good ole boy system was at work as usual.
To my understanding Strom Thurman had some property to off load in the present area.

Is don’t see how this is a part of a “good ol’ Boy system” up until recently the traffic just hasn’t warranted it. I get through SC at pretty much the same speed I get through GA. To SC’s benefit, there isn’t a 60 mph highly fined, highly patrolled construction zone every overpass.

[cjseliga]

Originally Posted by Mutiny77

It's a shame I-95 wasn't routed through Charleston. Deciding on its current route was one of the most boneheaded moves ever.

If someone had a few $100 billion, they can build a "true I-99" (too bad former PA congressman Bud Shuster wrote it into law I-99 needs to go through his home district ) and go from Yemassee to Charleston to Myrtle Beach to Wilmington to Jacksonville to New Bern to Williamston to Elizabeth City to Norfolk to Salisbury to Dover to I-95 at the Christina Mall!