With a quick scoop of dirt from eight golden shovels, a group of local and state officials officially broke ground at Fort Mill’s new I-77 interchange project on Monday, March 11, 2024.
Held outside the Baxter Town Center just off Exit 85, near the intersection of SC 160 and I-77, the ceremony marked the beginning of the S.C. Department of Transportation’s work on an innovative new interchange reconfiguration project. The project, which could take up to four years to complete, will cost $160 million.
“This project is a very unique interchange design,” said Christy Hall, SCDOT Secretary of Transportation, speaking to a large group of officials at the ceremony. “We are building on the successes that we’ve seen on other interchange projects here in this area designing to whatever is needed to meet the traffic volumes and demands of this area.”
According to SCDOT’s press release, the project will reconfigure the existing diamond interchange at Exit 85 to improve access between SC 160 and I-77. The new configuration is called an offset direction interchange, which will not only reduce left-turn issues on SC 160, but will also improve intersection spacing and reduce congestion on SC 160.This will be the first of its kind in South Carolina. The project will also widen over one mile of SC 160 through the interchange from US 21 to Pleasant Road.
SCDOT Chief Operating Officer Justin Powell told the crowd he was happy to work with all local and state partners on the project to make “needed infrastructure improvements in this area.”
“This area in particular has seen dramatic growth over the past 10 years. Businesses are relocating here, and people across the United States are realizing what we already know, that South Carolina is a great place to make your home,” Powell said.
S.C. Senator Michael Johnson, R-Dist. 16, praised the “collaborative effort” it took from local and state officials to fund the project.
“It’s hard to believe it’s taken us five years, but its well worth the wait,” Johnson said. “I am thankful to all of our partners- the Town, RFATS (Rock Hill-Fort Mill Area Transportation Study), DOT and York County. Thank you all for being willing to do what had to be done to make this happen.”