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South Carolina Highway 121

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South Carolina Highway 121 marker
South Carolina Highway 121
Route of SC 121 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by SCDOT
Length134.200 mi[1][2][3][4][5][6][7] (215.974 km)
Existed1964[citation needed]–present
Major junctions
South end US 1 / US 25 / US 78 / US 278 / SR 10 / SR 121 at the GA state line near North Augusta
Major intersections
North end US 21 / SC 322 in Rock Hill
Location
CountryUnited States
StateSouth Carolina
CountiesAiken, Edgefield, Saluda, Newberry, Union, Chester, York
Highway system
← SC 120→ SC 122

South Carolina Highway 121 (SC 121) is a 134.200-mile (215.974 km) major state highway that travels north and south in central parts of the U.S. state of South Carolina. The highway is actually part of a long multi-state highway that also exists in Florida and Georgia, as Florida State Road 121 and Georgia State Route 121, respectively.

Route description

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Monument to the Battle of Fishdam Ford, located on the east bank of the Broad River

SC 121 continues its concurrency with U.S. Route 25 (US 25) from Augusta, Georgia into North Augusta, South Carolina. In the Schultz Hill section of North Augusta, US 25/SC 121 leaves the concurrency with US 1 and US 78, and heads north. Still within North Augusta, it has an interchange with Interstate 520 (I-520) at exit 22 and I-20 (at exit 5).[8]

In Trenton at the northern terminus of SC 19, US 25 turns to the north. From there the route becomes independent and it runs mainly through rural western South Carolina. Johnston is where the route serves as the northern terminus of SC 191 and later crosses SC 23.[8]

In Saluda, SC 121 is overlapped by US 178/SC 39, then intersects US 378. The overlap with US 178/SC 39 ends at Travis Road. Later it crosses a bridge over the Saluda River and is then overlapped with SC 34 until it reaches Newberry. Barely inside Newberry, the route becomes the terminus of SC 395 and then has a major intersection with US 76. Further north it encounters a quarter-cloverleaf interchanges with I-26 (at exit 72).[8]

North of Newberry, it encounters yet another concurrency with US 176, which it follows straight north before curving to the west as it enters Whitmire, where the routes make a sharp turn to the east and encounters the beginning of a long concurrency with SC 72. After a bridge over the Enoree River, the concurrency with US 176 ends just east of Whitmire.[8]

SC 121/72 runs through Carlisle where it has another concurrency with SC 215, which ends east of the bridge over the Broad River, which contains a monument to an American Revolutionary battle known as the Battle of Fishdam Ford.[8]

SC 121/72 does not encounter any major junctions for about 12 miles (19.3 km) until they reach Chester, where SC 121/72 has another concurrency, this time with US 321/SC 9. This concurrency runs southeast until US 321 branches off to the south at the southern terminus of US 321 Business (US 321 Bus.). The routes continue to the east along SC 97, running beneath a railroad bridge, and then turning toward the north. SC 9 makes a right turn at Lancaster Avenue, which is the eastern terminus of SC 9 Bus. SC 121/72/97 has an at-grade crossing with another railroad line leading to the city, and then SC 121/72 branches off to the right at Saluda Road (SC 72 Bus.), while SC 97 continues north.[8]

The concurrency with SC 72 finally ends at SC 901 in Rock Hill. Within the city, it joins briefly with SC 5, before merging with its final concurrency, US 21. Traversing east of the downtown area, its journey ends at Cherry Road, where US 21 continues north towards Fort Mill, while also connecting with SC 322.[8]

SC 121 is one of the most concurrent state highways in South Carolina. It shares long stretches of pavement with these two routes:

  • US 25 from the Georgia state line to Trenton (20 miles)
  • SC 72 from Whitmire to Rock Hill (46 miles, as well as the longest concurrency in South Carolina)

It has shorter concurrencies with US 1, 78, and 278 (altogether), SC 230, US 178, SC 39, SC 34, US 176, SC 215, US 321, SC 9, SC 97, SC 909, SC 5, and US 21.

History

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SC 121 had two previous stints in the state before its current routing was established. The first SC 121 was established in 1925 or 1926 as a new primary routing; it traversed from SC 27 in Aiken, northeast through Wagener and Pelion, to SC 2/SC 12 in Springdale. In 1928, it was renumbered as SC 215.[citation needed]

The second SC 121 was established in 1929 or 1930 as new primary routing; it traversed from US 21 in Branchville, east through Bowman, to SC 31 in Providence. In 1937 or 1938, SC 121 was extended along US 78 before branching off to end at SC 65; its eastern terminus was also extended to US 15. In 1940, SC 121 was extended southwest to SC 362, and east to SC 6 in Vance. In 1948, SC 121 was truncated on both ends, from US 21 to US 15; its routing to SC 61 became Farrell's Road (S-5-18). By 1952, it was extended east to SC 310 in Vance. In 1953, it was extended completely back to SC 6. In 1962-1964, the entire route was renumbered as SC 210.[9][10]

The third, and current, SC 121 was established in 1962-1964, which formed a three-state route (continues south as Georgia State Route 121 and Florida State Road 121 to Lebanon Station, Florida). From North Augusta to Rock Hill, it was placed on concurrencies with various highways throughout the state; with exception around Whitmire, where it replaced part of SC 19. Its routing has remained unchanged since inception.[11][12][13][14]

Major intersections

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CountyLocationmi[1][2][3]
[4][5][6][7]		kmDestinationsNotes
Savannah River0.0000.000

 US 1 / US 25 / SR 121 south / US 78 / US 278 / SR 10 west (Gordon Highway) – Augusta		Continuation from Georgia
0.000–
0.005		0.000–
0.0080		South Carolina–Georgia line
AikenNorth Augusta0.188–
0.340		0.303–
0.547		5th Street Bridge / River North DriveInterchange
0.7101.143

 US 1 north / US 78 / US 278 east – Aiken		Northern end of US 1 and US 78/US 278 concurrencies
0.8601.384



 Buena Vista Avenue east (SC 125 Conn. east) to US 78 west / US 1 south – Augusta		Southern end of SC 125 Conn. concurrency[15]
0.9701.561Buena Vista Avenue west (SC 125 Conn. west)Northern end of SC 125 Conn. concurrency[15]
1.3902.237
 SC 125 / SC 230 north (Atomic Road) – North Augusta, Savannah River Site
SC 125 Truck begins		Southern end of SC 125 Truck/SC 230 concurrencies; southern terminus of SC 125 Truck and SC 230
1.8202.929
 SC 230 north (Martintown Road / SC 125 Truck north) – Lake Thurmond		Northern end of SC 125 Truck/SC 230 concurrency
3.5905.778

 US 25 Bus. south (Georgia Avenue) – Augusta		Northern terminus of US 25 Bus.
4.6107.419
 SC 126 east (Belvedere Clearwater Road) – Clearwater		Western terminus of SC 126
6.1709.930
 US 25 Conn. south to I-520		Northern terminus of US 25 Connector; I-520 exit 22
7.02011.298 I-20 – Columbia, AtlantaI-20 exit 5
EdgefieldTrenton20.360–
20.410		32.766–
32.847

 US 25 north / SC 19 south – Edgefield, Aiken		Northern end of US 25 concurrency; northern terminus of SC 19
20.94033.700 West Wise Street east (SC 19 Conn. south) – Trenton Municipal Airport, Douglas Elementary SchoolNorthern terminus of SC 19 Conn.; western terminus of West Wake Street
​27.14043.678
 SC 191 south – Aiken		Northern terminus of SC 191
Johnston28.38045.673 SC 23 – Edgefield, Ridge Spring
Saluda​36.44058.644
 SC 193 south – Ward		Northern terminus of SC 193
Saluda40.98065.951

 US 178 east / SC 39 south (Batesburg Highway) – Batesburg-Leesville, Ridge Spring		Southern end of US 178/SC 39 concurrency
41.18066.273 US 378 (Church Street) – Lexington, McCormick
41.53066.836




 US 178 west / SC 39 north (Greenwood Highway) to Travis Highway east (SC 178 Conn. east) / US 378 east / SC 194 – Greenwood, Columbia		Northern end of US 178/SC 39 concurrency; western terminus of US 178 Conn.
NewberrySilverstreet56.70091.250
 SC 34 west – Silverstreet, Greenwood		Southern end of SC 34 concurrency; to Ninety Six National Historic Site
​61.23098.540
 SC 34 east (Boundary Street) – Newberry		Northern end of SC 34 concurrency
​61.95099.699Dixie Drive east (SC 34 Conn. east) – WinnsboroWestern terminus of SC 34 Conn.
Newberry64.090103.143
 SC 395 south (Nance Street) – Newberry		Northern terminus of SC 395
​65.680105.702 US 76 – Prosperity, Clinton
​67.480–
67.519		108.599–
108.661		 I-26 – Columbia, SpartanburgI-26 exit 72
​73.500118.287
 US 176 east – Pomaria		Southern end of US 176 concurrency
Whitmire81.850131.725

 SC 72 west (Union Street) to SC 66 – Whitmire, Clinton		Southern end of SC 72 concurrency
Enoree River82.337132.509Senator Marvin E. Abrams Bridge
Union​82.360132.546
 US 176 north – Union		Eastern end of US 176 concurrency
​82.570132.884



 SC 72 Conn. west to US 176 west – Union		Eastern terminus of SC 72 Conn.
Carlisle91.550147.335
 SC 215 north (King Kennedy Street) – Santuc, Union		Western end of SC 215 concurrency
Chester​95.480153.660
 SC 215 south (Fairfield Road) – Monticello, Columbia		Eastern end of SC 215 concurrency
Chester107.970173.761

 US 321 north / SC 9 north (J.A. Cochran Bypass) / West End Street north – Chester, Lockhart		Western end of US 321 and SC 9 concurrencies; southern terminus of West End Street
109.810176.722



 US 321 south / SC 97 south / US 321 Bus. north (Columbia Street) – Winnsboro, Great Falls		Eastern end of US 321 concurrency; western end of SC 97 concurrency; southern terminus of US 321 Bus.
111.030178.685


 SC 9 south / SC 9 Bus. north (Lancaster Highway) – Lancaster, Chester		Eastern end of SC 9 concurrency; southern terminus of SC 9 Bus.
112.050180.327
 SC 97 north (J.A. Cochran Bypass) / Saluda Road south – Chester, Hickory Grove		Eastern end of SC 97 concurrency
Lewis117.270188.728
 SC 909 east (Rodman Road)		Western end of SC 909 concurrency
117.370188.889
 SC 909 west (Aaron Burr Road)		Eastern end of SC 909 concurrency
York​123.940199.462
 SC 324 west – York		Eastern terminus of SC 324
Rock Hill128.020206.028
 SC 72 east (Saluda Street) / SC 901 (Mount Holly Road) – Rock Hill, Edgemoor		Northern end of SC 72 concurrency
128.230206.366
 SC 5 north (Heckle Boulevard)		Southern end of SC 5 concurrency
130.610210.196


 US 21 south / SC 5 south (Main Street) to I-77 – Lancaster, Columbia		Southern end of US 21 concurrency; northern end of SC 5 concurrency
131.070210.937
 SC 122 (Dave Lyle Boulevard) to I-77		To Catawba Reservation; interchange
134.200215.974

 US 21 north / SC 322 west (Cherry Road) – Fort Mill		Northern end of US 21 concurrency; northern terminus; eastern terminus of SC 322
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Special routes

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Chester business loop

[edit]
Business plate South Carolina.svg
South Carolina Highway 121 Business marker
South Carolina Highway 121 Business
LocationChester, South Carolina
Length2.6 mi[16] (4.2 km)
Existed1964–c. 1987

SC 121 Business (SC 121 Bus.) was established in 1964 to run concurrently with SC 72 Bus.; through downtown Chester, via West End Street, Main Street and Saluda Street/Road. It was never part of mainline SC 121, as it bypassed Chester to the south and east with SC 72. It is unknown when the business loop was decommissioned.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Highway Logmile Report". South Carolina Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Highway Logmile Report". South Carolina Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Highway Logmile Report". South Carolina Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Highway Logmile Report". South Carolina Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  5. ^ a b "Highway Logmile Report". South Carolina Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  6. ^ a b "Highway Logmile Report". South Carolina Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  7. ^ a b "Highway Logmile Report". South Carolina Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g "South Carolina Highway 121" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  9. ^ General Highway Map, Orangeburg County, South Carolina (PDF) (Map). Cartography by SCDOT. South Carolina Department of Transportation. 1940. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  10. ^ General Highway Map, Orangeburg County, South Carolina (PDF) (Map). Cartography by SCDOT. South Carolina Department of Transportation. 1966. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  11. ^ General Highway Map, Aiken County, South Carolina (PDF) (Map). Cartography by SCDOT. South Carolina Department of Transportation. 1963. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  12. ^ General Highway Map, Aiken County, South Carolina (PDF) (Map). Cartography by SCDOT. South Carolina Department of Transportation. 1967. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  13. ^ General Highway Map, Newberry County, South Carolina (PDF) (Map). Cartography by SCDOT. South Carolina Department of Transportation. 1963. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  14. ^ General Highway Map, Newberry County, South Carolina (PDF) (Map). Cartography by SCDOT. South Carolina Department of Transportation. 1968. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  15. ^ a b Aiken & North Augusta Urban Area (PDF) (Map). South Carolina Department of Transportation. August 2019. p. Sheet 6. Retrieved September 12, 2020.
  16. ^ "Overview map of SC 121 Bus. (Chester)" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved September 1, 2013.
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