South Carolina Department of Transportation Proposes Updated Interstate Priority Lists to Improve In-State Connectivity and Reduce Congestion

The South Carolina Department of Transportation has issued two new lists of Interstate Highway priorities. With the two lists, SCDOT pursues new strategies to enhance the Interstate Highway system in support of South Carolina’s growing population and thriving economy as outlined in the Department’s 2025 Momentum 2050 Multimodal Transportation Plan. The priority lists will be considered by the SCDOT Commission at its September meeting.

SCDOT will continue to advance previously ranked Interstate Highway projects that are already underway. However, to meet the state’s evolving transportation needs, SCDOT has developed an updated approach to Interstate Highway programming which will supersede the 2007 Interstate Capacity and Interchange and the 2018 and 2023 Rural Interstate priority lists:

• The Regional Connectivity Interstate Program is designed to improve the safe and efficient movement of people and goods among South Carolina’s cities, towns, and regions. This program prioritizes rural Interstate Highway corridors for future design and construction projects. View the Regional Connectivity Interstate Program Priority List.

• The new Metropolitan Interstate Program will address reliability and safety on Interstate Highway corridors in South Carolina’s most congested areas. This program prioritizes Interstate Highway corridors in metropolitan areas for planning studies and subsequent future design and construction projects. View the Metropolitan Interstate Program Priority List.

Secretary of Transportation Justin P. Powell said, “As defined in our long-range transportation plan, there are two strategic goals that we must address on South Carolina’s Interstate Highways – improving connectivity between regions within South Carolina and reducing traffic congestion in the most populated areas. To meet these two distinct goals, we developed two lists of priorities – and with each, we chart a direct course toward the practical work of improving our state’s Interstate Highways now and for future generations.”

Both programs used formula-driven ranking to compare criteria among corridors that face similar issues and identify which areas are most in need of improvements. Together, these programs will help ensure the Interstate Highway system continues to support economic growth, connectivity, and mobility statewide.

In accordance with Act 114 of 2017, SCDOT will add new Interstate Highway projects to the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) and provide an opportunity for public comments. SCDOT has developed these Interstate Highway programs in accordance with the following Engineering Directives:

• Engineering Directive 77: Regional Connectivity Interstate Prioritization Process

• Engineering Directive 83: Metropolitan Interstate Prioritization Process

Regional Connectivity Interstate Program

Click here to view a map of the Regional Connectivity Interstate Program.

Metropolitan Interstate Program

Click here to view a map of the Metropolitan Interstate Program.