The South Carolina State Highway System is the fourth largest state-maintained system of state highways in the country. It consists of Interstates, U.S. highways, state highways, and secondary roads, totaling approximately 41,500 miles (66,800 km).[1]
   Standard South Carolina route shields | |
| System information | |
|---|---|
| Length | 41,500 mi[1] (66,800 km) |
| Notes | State roads maintained by the SCDOT |
| Highway names | |
| Interstates | Interstate X (I-X) |
| US Highways | U.S. Highway X (US X) |
| State | South Carolina Highway X (SC X) |
| System links | |
History
editSignage
editSouth Carolina Highways has had three major highway marker changes over its existence. The first signs used by the state featured an all white square with a black outline of the geographic state of South Carolina with black numbers located in the center. In 1948, a more simple design was established; still using a white square with just the numbers and the initials "S.C." at the top; a variant wider side was used for three-digit numbers. In the 1960s-1970s, an alternate was also used, which was a white square with "S. CAROLINA" partitioned at the top and number below.
On June 19, 2007, the South Carolina Department of Transportation Commission approved the change to the signs marking the primary state highways from the black-and-white to the blue-and-white design, which features an outline of the state, the palmetto tree and crescent symbol from the state flag, and the words "SOUTH CAROLINA" spelled out along on the top of the highway shield.[2] South Carolina uses a wide shield for all routes, regardless of number of digits.[3]
Secondary roads
editSouth Carolina utilizes a numbering system to keep track of all non-interstate and primary highways that are maintained by SCDOT. First appearing in 1947[citation needed] (when a huge amount of highways were cancelled or truncated), the "state highway secondary system"[4] carries the number of the county followed by a unique number for the particular road. An example is S-11-154, which defines a secondary road in Cherokee County (11) with a road number of 154 (Whelchel Road). The counties are numbered in alphabetical order, with Abbeville as 1 and York as 46.[5][6] Secondary road signs may either be integrated with a street name sign[citation needed] or appear separate as a black rectangle with white lettering.[6][7]
List of routes
editToll roads
edit- Southern Connector - Tolled section of I-185, between I-385 and I-85, in Greenville County.
Other routes and highways
editFerry division
editThe South Carolina Department of Transportation Ferry Division a.k.a. South Carolina Ferry System is a branch of SCDOT that is responsible for the operation of over two dozen ferry services that transport passengers and vehicles to several islands along the James Island outside of Charleston in South Carolina.
two other inland, cable ferries continue in operation, under the oversight of the SCDOT.
Routes
editSee also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "SCDOT: Statewide Transportation Improvement Program" (PDF). South Carolina Department of Transportation. July 16, 2009. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
- ^ "SCDOT Introduces New Signs for SC Highways". South Carolina Department of Transportation. June 22, 2007. Retrieved October 10, 2012.
- ^ South Carolina Department of Transportation (2011). "Guide Signs – SC Route Marker" (PDF). SCDOT Supplement to the MUTCD. No page number; pp. 200–201 of .pdf document. Signs M1-5-30 (conventional roads) and M1-5-45 (expressways).
- ^ State of South Carolina (2011). "Title 57, Chapter 5, Article 1". South Carolina Code of Laws.
- ^ "SC Street Finder". South Carolina Department of Transportation. October 8, 2013. Retrieved June 18, 2014.
- ^ a b South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. "Traffic Signs, Signals, Markings". South Carolina Driver's Manual (PDF). pp. 184–185.
- ^ South Carolina Department of Transportation (2011). "Guide Signs – Secondary Route Marker" (PDF). SCDOT Supplement to the MUTCD. No page number; p. 204 of .pdf document. Signs M1-15-20-D/F (left or right arrow) and M1-15-24-D/F (both arrows).
External links
edit- South Carolina @ SouthEastRoads.com (route log)
- South Carolina Highways (includes early history)
- South Carolina Highway Page