Interstate 85 in South Carolina

Infobox road
state=SC
route=85
type=I


length_mi=
length_round=2
direction_a=South
terminus_a=Jct|state=GA|I|85 at Georgia state line
junction=jct|state=SC|I|26 in Spartanburg
direction_b=North
terminus_b=Jct|state=NC|I|85 at North Carolina state line
previous_type=SC
previous_route=83
next_type=SC
next_route=86In the U.S. state of South Carolina, Interstate 85 runs northeast-southwest through Greenville and Spartanburg. It follows the general corridor of U.S. Route 29.

Geography

Georgia state line to Greenville

In South Carolina, Interstate 85 crosses Lake Hartwell at several points before bypassing Anderson on the way to Greenville. Beginning at Anderson, I-85 widens from four to six lanes. Near Powdersville, U.S. 29 joins I-85 and they run concurrently until they cross the Saluda River.

Greenville to Spartanburg

Interstate 85 bypasses Greenville, but provides a link into the city via spur routes Interstates 185 and 385. U.S. 29 splits from I-85 and joins I-185 toward downtown Greenville. I-185 recently saw a major expansion south of the city as the Southern Connector was completed.

Two key Upstate businesses can be seen from this portion of the interstate. One is Michelin Tires's North American headquarters and the other is the BMW plant, located in Greer. I-85 also passes Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport, which serves the Greenville-Spartanburg metropolitan area.

partanburg to North Carolina state line

Instead of going into Spartanburg, I-85 bypasses the city to the north. Its original route is now designated Business Loop 85 and was approved by AASHTO on April 22, 1995. [ [http://www.interstate-guide.com/i-085.html Interstate [e-mail]] Courtesy AARoads. Retrieved 27 May, 2007.]

North of Spartanburg, I-85 narrows from six lanes back to four lanes and bypasses Gaffney. At Gaffney, motorists can see The Peachoid, a large water tower with its top shaped like a peach, representing one of the state's most important crops.

Most of the terrain between Spartanburg and the North Carolina border is rural in nature.

Major cities

Bolded cities are officially-designated control cities for signs.
*Atlanta, Georgia
*Anderson
*Greenville
*Spartanburg
*Charlotte, North Carolina

Auxiliary routes

*Interstate 185 is a spur into Greenville from the southwest, and a later extension as a toll road to I-385 southeast of Greenville.
*Interstate 385 is a spur into Greenville from the east, and a later extension southeast to Interstate 26 towards Columbia.
*Interstate 585 is a spur from Interstate 85 Business into Spartanburg from the northwest. It does not connect directly to I-85 or any other Interstate.

Exit list

References