U.S. Route 29 in South Carolina

U.S. Route 29 (US 29) is a 110.202-mile (177.353 km) north–south United States highway that travels from the Savannah River to Blacksburg, entirely in Upstate South Carolina.

U.S. Highway 29
Route of US 29 in South Carolina highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by SCDOT
Length	110.202 mi[1][2][3][4] (177.353 km)
Existed	1927–present
Major junctions
South end	US 29 / SR 8 at the Georgia line near Hartwell, GA
	US 76 / US 178 in Anderson I-85 (numerous times) I-185 / US 25 near Greenville US 123 in Greenville US 276 in Greenville I-26 in Spartanburg US 221 / SC 56 in Spartanburg US 176 / SC 9 in Spartanburg
North end	US 29 at the North Carolina line near Grover, NC
Location
Counties	Anderson, Greenville, Spartanburg, Cherokee
Highway system
United States Numbered Highway System List Special Divided South Carolina State Highway System Interstate U.S. State Scenic ← SC 28 → SC 30

Route description

US 29 enters South Carolina crossing the Savannah River, downstream from Hartwell Dam, and proceeds to travel along the forested eastern edge of Lake Hartwell for 3.2 miles (5.1 km), where it meets up with Old US 29. From there, it goes on a northeasterly direction towards Anderson. 3 miles (4.8 km) outside Anderson, US 29 Business takes a left turn and more direct route into the downtown area; while mainline US 29 continues east, with most signage signed "TRUCK" instead of the more usual "BY-PASS" (state maps confirm it is the mainline route).[5] At SC 81, US 29 takes a left turn and follows briefly before taking a right turn at Shockley Ferry Road. Crossing SC 28 Business, the road widens to an undivided four-lane, continuing until reaching River Street (US 76/US 178); where US 29 makes another right turn and then soon left again. US 29 meets back with US 29 Business at Williamston Road. Continuing northeast for another 8 miles (13 km), US 29 makes a junction with US 29/SC 20 Connector to Williamston; the highway briefly divides at junction. With another 6.5 miles (10.5 km), US 29 merges with northbound Interstate 85 (exit 34, northbound exit and southbound entrance only).[6]

After traveling in concurrency with Interstate 85, US 29 switches onto Interstate 185 at exit 42 (exit 14B on Interstate 185). After 2.5 miles (4.0 km), Interstate 185 ends at Henrydale Avenue; US 29 continues along Mills Avenue, followed by Church Street (staying straight), through downtown Greenville. At North Street and Academy Street (US 123), travelers can connect to Interstate 385; between the two streets is the Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Church street eventually ends onto Wade Hampton Boulevard, which is a divided six-lane highway from Greenville to Greer.[6]

Once after passing through Greer, the highway shrinks to a divided four-lane highway, continuing through Lyman and Wellford. After passing Interstate 85 (exit 66) and Interstate 26 (exit 21), US 29 enters Spartanburg and through one of the busiest commercial areas in the city, centered at Westgate Mall (the highway is widen to six-lanes throughout the commercial area). As US 29 enters the city center area, it takes a left onto Saint John Street, then proceeds to parallel Main Street before rejoining 1.5 miles (2.4 km) later. At Pine Street (US 176/SC 9), travelers can connect to Interstate 585. US 29 continues in a northeasterly direction into Cowpens, where the highway reduces down to a two-lane through town.[6]

After passing through Cowpens, the road widens again to an undivided 4-lane for 2.7 miles (4.3 km) before entering into Gaffney. Continuing as a two-lane road through both Gaffney and Blacksburg, it crosses one last time with Interstate 85 (exit 106), before entering North Carolina.[6]

History

From its inception until 1959, US 29 was the main thoroughfare in Upstate South Carolina and connecting regionally with Atlanta and Charlotte. Though still important in the upstate, it now takes a traveler on a more indirect route compared to Interstate 85.

First sign of US 29, after the NC state line, near Blacksburg

Established in 1927 as an original U.S. Route, it generally traversed the same today as it then when created; from Georgia to North Carolina, via Anderson, Greenville, Greer, Spartanburg, Gaffney, and Blacksburg. The entire route was in concurrency with SC 8.

In 1928, SC 8 was rerouted completely off US 29. In 1935, US 29 was rerouted onto new alignment between Anderson and Greenville. The old routing using Greenville Road onto Old Anderson Road, then east on Pendleton Road and finally Main Street was renumbered as SC 81. The new routing turns at Williamson Road, to Williamston, Pelzer, and Piedmont, before entering Greenville on Grove Road, Allen Street, Pendleton Street, and finally Main Street. The new alignment replaced SC 248 and part of SC 20.

In 1938, US 29 was rerouted from Greenville northward. From using Main Street, to Buncombe Road, to Rutherford Avenue, and to Camp Road into Greer. The new routing follows Main Street to Stone Avenue and finally to Wade Hampton Boulevard.

Between 1943-1946, US 29 was moved onto new road bypassing Greer and Duncan. In 1947, US 29 was given a southeastern bypass of Anderson, creating a business loop through downtown. In 1948, US 29 was rerouted onto Grove Road and Augusta Road, leaving Allen Street and Green Street, in Greenville.[7]

By 1955, US 29 was rerouted onto a new Super two highway north of Spartanburg, Cowpens, Gaffney, and Blacksburg; the old route became US 29 Alternate.[8] In 1957 or 1958, US 29 was rerouted onto a new Super two highway, bypassing Williamston, Pelzer, and Piedmont; the old alignment later became connector route for US 29/SC 20. It then went onto new road connecting with US 25 and SC 291. In concurrency with SC 291, it reaches Wade Hampton Boulevard; leaving behind a business loop through downtown Greenville. In 1959, Interstate 85 was assigned from Spartanburg to North Carolina, in concurrency with US 29, once the highway was expanded into four-lanes.

In 1962, US 29 was removed from Interstate 85 from Spartanburg to North Carolina and was moved back on its original routing, replacing US 29 Alternate.[9] In the Greenville area, US 29 was rerouted back through Greenville along Interstate 185, which connected directly via Church Street, to Wade Hampton Boulevard. US 29 Business in Greenville was decommissioned as a result. The old alignment to SC 291 became part of Interstate 85.[10][11] Finally, at the South Carolina-Georgia state line, US 29 was rerouted south from SC 412 to avoid the new Lake Hartwell. Most of old US 29 is underwater, with parts of it above surface used for marina purposes.[12][13]

In 1974, US 29 was rerouted onto Saint Johns Avenue from Main Street, in Spartanburg.

Major intersections

County	Location	mi[1][2][3][4]	km	Exit	Destinations	Notes
Anderson	​	0.000	0.000		US 29 south / SR 8 west – Hartwell	Continuation from Georgia over the Savannah River near Hartwell Dam
	Holland Store	2.770	4.458		SC 412 east (Rainey Road) – Starr, Iva
	​	4.070	6.550		SC 187	To Sadlers Creek State Park
	​	12.820	20.632		US 29 Bus. north (Sayre Street) – Anderson	Southern terminus of US 29 Bus.
	​	13.980	22.499		SC 81 south (Murray Avenue) – Starr	Southern end of SC 81 concurrency
	​	14.100	22.692		SC 28 (Pearman Dairy Road)
	​	14.210	22.869		SC 81 north (Murray Avenue) – Anderson	Northern end of SC 81 concurrency
	​	14.550	23.416		SC 81 Bus. (Main Street)
	Anderson	16.230	26.120		US 76 west (East River Street) / US 178 west – Athens, Atlanta	Southern end of US 76/US 178 concurrency
		16.820	27.069		US 76 east (East River Street) / US 178 east – Belton	Northern end of US 76/US 178 concurrency
		17.820	28.679		US 29 Bus. south (Williamston Road) – Anderson	To Anderson University
	​	25.630	41.247		US 29 Conn. north (Anderson Highway) to SC 20 – Williamston, Pelzer	Southern terminus of US 29 Conn.
	​	30.614– 30.632	49.268– 49.297		SC 8 (Easley Highway) – West Pelzer, Pelzer, Williamston
	​	32.922	52.983	34	I-85 south – Atlanta	Southern end of I-85 concurrency; southbound left exit and northbound entrance
	​	34.162	54.978	35	SC 86 – Piedmont, Easley
	Easley	37.902	60.997	39	River Road – Easley
		39.162	63.025	40	SC 153 – Easley
Greenville	​	40.832	65.713		I-85 north / I-185 south (Southern Connector) – Spartanburg, Columbia	Northern end of I-85 concurrency; southern end of I-185 concurrency; I-85 exit 42; I-185 exit 14B
	​	41.922– 41.952	67.467– 67.515	15	US 25 (White Horse Road) – Travelers Rest	Northbound exit and southbound entrance
	Greenville	42.003– 42.033	67.597– 67.646	16	US 25 / SC 20 (Piedmont Highway) – Piedmont	Southbound exit and northbound entrance
		43.552	70.090		Henrydale Avenue	Northern end of I-185 concurrency; northern terminus of I-185
		44.502	71.619		SC 20 (Augusta Street) – Asheville, Greenwood
		45.402– 45.452	73.067– 73.148		Downtown Greenville (Camperdown Way)	Interchange
		45.638– 45.762	73.447– 73.647		East McBee Avenue – Downtown Greenville	Northbound exit only
		45.982	74.001		East North Street (I-385 Bus. south)	East North Street is eastbound only; northern terminus of southbound lanes of I-385 Bus.
		46.062	74.130		Beattie Place (I-385 Bus. south)	Beattie Place is westbound only; northern terminus of northbound lanes of I-385 Bus.
		46.342	74.580		US 123 (Academy Street) – Asheville, Greenwood
		46.612	75.015		Column Street (US 29 Spur north)	Southern terminus of US 29 Spur and Column Street
		46.972	75.594		Wade Hampton Boulevard south (US 29 Conn. south) – Greenville Zoo	Northern terminus of US 29 Conn.; US 29 turns right off of North Church Street and onto Wade Hampton Boulevard.
		48.702	78.378		SC 291 (Pleasantburg Drive)
	Wade Hampton	48.892	78.684		Pine Knoll Drive (US 29 Conn. south) to SC 291 south – Greenville Convention Center, Greenville Technical College, University Center	Northern terminus of US 29 Conn.
	Greer	56.132	90.336		SC 14 Truck south / SC 101 north / SC 290 west (Buncombe Street)	Southern end of SC 14 Truck and SC 101/SC 290 concurrencies
		56.382	90.738		SC 101 south / SC 290 east (Poinsett Street) / SC 290 Truck begins	Northern end of SC 101/SC 290 concurrency; southern end of SC 290 Truck concurrency; northern terminus of SC 290 Truck
		58.152	93.587		SC 14 (Main Street) / SC 14 Truck – Landrum	Northern end of SC 14 Truck concurrency; northern terminus of SC 14 Truck
Spartanburg		58.752	94.552		SC 357 (Arlington Road)
		60.742	97.755		SC 80 west / SC 290 Truck south (J. Verne Smith Parkway)	Northern end of SC 290 Truck concurrency; eastern terminus of SC 80
	Lyman	63.722	102.551		SC 129 east / SC 292 east (Charlotte Highway) to SC 358	Southern end of SC 292 concurrency
		63.842	102.744		SC 292 west (Groce Road)	Northern end of SC 292 concurrency
	Wellford	64.522	103.838		Astor Street (SC 292 Conn. west)	Eastern terminus of SC 292 Conn.
	​	66.822– 66.832	107.540– 107.556		I-85 – Greenville, Charlotte	I-85 exit 66
	Spartanburg	71.572– 71.582	115.184– 115.200		I-26 – Columbia, Asheville	I-26 exits 21A-B
		71.872	115.667		SC 295 (Blackstock Road)
		74.782	120.350		SC 296 west (John B. White Sr. Boulevard)	Eastern terminus of SC 296
		75.562	121.605		US 221 / SC 56 (Church Street) – Inman, Chesnee, Roebuck
		76.292	122.780		US 176 / SC 9 (Pine Street) – Inman, Pacolet
	Cowpens	84.732	136.363		SC 110 north (Battleground Road) – Chesnee
Cherokee	Gaffney	94.642	152.312		SC 105 (Hyatt Street / Corry Street)	To Limestone College
		95.892	154.323		SC 11 / SC 18 (Frederick Street) – Union
		96.102	154.661		SC 150 (Limestone Street) to SC 18 – Pacolet, Shelby, Gastonia, Charlotte
	​	100.182	161.227		SC 329 (Victory Trail Road)
	Blacksburg	105.322	169.499		SC 5 (York Road) – Shelby, York
	​	109.842– 110.052	176.774– 177.112		I-85 – Charlotte, Spartanburg	I-85 exit 106
	​	110.202	177.353		US 29 north – Grover	Continuation into North Carolina
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Concurrency terminus       Incomplete access

See also

•  U.S. roads portal
• Special routes of U.S. Route 29

References

1. "Highway Logmile Report". South Carolina Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
2. "Highway Logmile Report". South Carolina Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
3. "Highway Logmile Report". South Carolina Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
4. "Highway Logmile Report". South Carolina Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
5. Anderson City (PDF) (Map). South Carolina Department of Transportation. December 2011. Retrieved February 9, 2013.
6. Google (February 8, 2013). "Overview map of US 29 in South Carolina" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved February 8, 2013.
7. General Highway Map, Greenville County, South Carolina (PDF) (Map). Cartography by SCDOT. South Carolina Department of Transportation. 1953. Retrieved February 9, 2013.
8. General Highway Map, Spartanburg County, South Carolina (PDF) (Map). Cartography by SCDOT. South Carolina Department of Transportation. 1957. Retrieved February 9, 2013.
9. General Highway Map, Spartanburg County, South Carolina (PDF) (Map). Cartography by SCDOT. South Carolina Department of Transportation. 1968. Retrieved February 9, 2013.
10. General Highway Map, Greenville County, South Carolina (PDF) (Map). Cartography by SCDOT. South Carolina Department of Transportation. 1957. Retrieved February 9, 2013.
11. General Highway Map, Greenville County, South Carolina (PDF) (Map). Cartography by SCDOT. South Carolina Department of Transportation. 1965. Retrieved February 9, 2013.
12. General Highway Map, Anderson County, South Carolina (PDF) (Map). Cartography by SCDOT. South Carolina Department of Transportation. 1957. Retrieved February 9, 2013.
13. General Highway Map, Anderson County, South Carolina (PDF) (Map). Cartography by SCDOT. South Carolina Department of Transportation. 1968. Retrieved February 9, 2013.

External links

• Media related to U.S. Route 29 in South Carolina at Wikimedia Commons
• US 29 at Virginia Highways' South Carolina Highways Annex