Interstate 126

Infobox road
state=SC
route=126
type=I


alternate_name=Lester Bates Freeway
maint=
length_mi=3.68
length_round=2
length_ref=cite web|url=http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/reports/routefinder/table2.cfm|title=Route Log and Finder List - Interstate System: Table 2|publisher=FHWA|accessdate=2007-10-03]
year_established=1962
direction_a=West
terminus_a=Jct|state=SC|I|26|US|76 in Columbia
junction=
direction_b=East
terminus_b=Jct|state=SC|US|21|US|176|US|321|BS|126 (Huger Street/Elmwood Avenue) in Downtown Columbia
previous_type=
previous_route=
next_type=
next_route=

Interstate 126 (abbreviated I-126) is a spur route of Interstate 26, near Columbia, South Carolina in the United States. It runs 3.1 miles (5 km) from I-26 just south of the junction with Interstate 20, eastward across the Broad River (Timmerman Bridge), and into downtown Columbia terminating at US 21/US 176/US 321 (Huger Street). It is named the Lester Bates Freeway and is co-signed with US 76 for the entire route.

I-126 has unnumbered interchanges with Colonial Life Boulevard (westbound only), Greystone Boulevard, and US 21/US 176/US 321. The route is seven lanes from I-26 to Colonial Life Boulevard and eight lanes to US 21/US 176/US 321. Two lanes extend into Columbia signed as "I-126/US 76 EAST - Elmwood Avenue" but the freeway ends within the US 21/US 176/US 321 interchange.

Business routes

Columbia business spur

Westbound Elmwood Avenue (US 21/US 76/US 176/US 321) has also been signed as Interstate 126 Business for several decades but this designation has never appeared on maps. As of 2006, only one sign retains the "Business Spur" designation, the others having been replaced by traditional interstate signs.

Exit list

{| class=wikitable!Destinations!Notes
-
jct|state=SC|I|26|dir1=west|US|76|dir2=west|city1=Spartanburg
Westbound exit and eastbound entrance
-
jct|state=SC|I|20|city1=Florence, Augusta
Westbound exit and eastbound entrance; signed as exit 107
-
jct|state=SC|I|26|dir1=east|city1=Charleston
Westbound exit and eastbound entrance
-
Colonial Life Boulevard to Bush River Road
Westbound exit and eastbound entrance
-
Greystone Boulevard - Riverbanks Zoo|
-
jct|state=SC|US|21|dir1=south|US|176|dir2=east|US|321|dir3=south|name3=Huger Street
-
jct|state=SC|US|21|dir1=north|US|176|dir2=west|US|321|dir3=north|name3= Elmwood Avenue

References