South Carolina Highway 61
Route information | ||||
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Maintained by SCDOT | ||||
Length | 67.05 mi[1] (107.91 km) | |||
Existed | 1923–present | |||
Tourist routes | Ashley River Road | |||
Major junctions | ||||
South end | SC 30 in Charleston | |||
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North end | US 78 near Branchville | |||
Location | ||||
Country | United States | |||
State | South Carolina | |||
Counties | Charleston, Dorchester, Colleton, Bamberg | |||
Highway system | ||||
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South Carolina Highway 61 (SC 61) is a 67-mile-long (108 km) state highway in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The highway is designated on a north–south direction, but physically travels in an east–west direction, from SC 30 in Charleston to U.S. Route 78 (US 78) near Branchville. The portion of SC 61 from Church Creek Bridge and 10 miles (16 km) north is designated a National Scenic Byway.[2]
Route description
This article about roads may need to be written in a south-to-north or west-to-east direction. |
St. Andrew's Boulevard
The eastern-most section of SC 61 is named St. Andrew's Boulevard. This section travels from US 17 to SC 171. It is mostly residential buildings that have been rezoned commercial.
Ashley River Road
Ashley River Road is the portion of SC 61 that travels through Charleston near the Ashley River from SC 171 to SC 165. It is four lanes near Sam Rittenberg Boulevard, but becomes two lanes through the scenic stretch. Along the two-lane stretch, there are many large oaks and historic plantations. The SC 61/Ashley River Road exit from Interstate 526 (I-526) actually exits onto SC 461 (Paul Cantrell Boulevard).
Points of interest along Ashley River Road:
- Drayton Hall
- Magnolia Plantation and Gardens and the Audubon Swamp Garden
- Middleton Place Plantation
- Shadowmoss Plantation - Golf Club & Residential
- MacLaura Hall - Private Residential
Beech Hill Road
Beech Hill Road is the section of SC 61 that travels from SC 165 to US 17A. The Legend Oaks Plantation is south of this section of highway.
Augusta Highway
Augusta Highway is the longest section of SC 61 from US 17A to the westernmost end of SC 61 where it merges into US 78.
National Register of Historic Places
Ashley River Road | |
Nearest city | Summerville, South Carolina |
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Area | 95 acres (38 ha) |
Built | 1691 |
Part of | Ashley River Historic District (ID93001514) |
NRHP reference No. | 83003831[3] |
Added to NRHP | November 21, 1983 |
Some or all of Ashley River Road was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.[3][4][5] In 1993, it was included in the Ashley River Historic District.
Future
Developers continue to build more homes further and further down Ashley River Road. A great deal of controversy was created about overdevelopment when the City of North Charleston annexed the 6,600-acre tract known as Watson Hill. The tract was sold by MeadWestvaco to private developers who then requested the annexation by North Charleston. The town of Summerville tried to rush an annexation to block North Charleston which ended in a court battle. Summerville later rescinded and backed away from its annexation attempt. The slump in the economy, 2008-2010, forced these developers to sell and the property was repurchased by MeadWestvaco.[6][7]
A recent public meeting suggested that if development is to occur, instead of widening Ashley River Road to alleviate congestion, Glenn McConnell Parkway, also known as SC 461, could be extended beyond its terminus at Bees Ferry Road.[citation needed] This is possible since Glenn McConnell Parkway travels parallel to SC 61.
Major intersections
County | Location | mi[1] | km | Destinations | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Charleston | Charleston | 0.00– 0.21 | 0.00– 0.34 | SC 30 (James Island Expressway) – Folly Beach, Calhoun Street | Exit 1 (SC 30) |
1.02– 1.07 | 1.64– 1.72 | US 17 (Savannah Highway) | Interchange; access from SC 61 to US 17 / from US 17 south to SC 61 north only | ||
1.07 | 1.72 | SC 171 south (Wesley Drive) | Southern end of SC 171 concurrency | ||
2.66– 2.75 | 4.28– 4.43 | SC 171 north (St. Andrews Boulevard / Old Towne Boulevard) to I-26 | Northern end of SC 171 concurrency | ||
4.08 | 6.57 | SC 7 (Sam Rittenberg Boulevard) | |||
4.56– 4.65 | 7.34– 7.48 | SC 461 north (Paul Cantrell Boulevard) | Southern terminus of SC 461 | ||
Dorchester | Cooke Crossroads | 19.47 | 31.33 | SC 165 (Bacons Bridge Road / Delemar Highway) – Ravenel, Summerville | |
| 24.04 | 38.69 | US 17 Alt. north – Summerville | Southern end of US 17 Alt. concurrency | |
| 24.45 | 39.35 | US 17 Alt. south – Walterboro | Northern end of US 17 Alt. concurrency | |
Givhans | 29.39 | 47.30 | SC 27 north (Givhans Road) – Ridgeville | Southern terminus of SC 27 | |
Colleton | | 39.71 | 63.91 | SC 651 south (Rehoboth Road) | Northern terminus of SC 651 |
Canadys | 46.90 | 75.48 | US 15 (Jefferies Highway) – Walterboro, St. George | ||
| 49.59– 49.89 | 79.81– 80.29 | I-95 – Florence, Savannah | Exit 68 (I-95) | |
| 53.42 | 85.97 | SC 217 south (Sunrise Road) – Smoaks | Northern terminus of SC 217 | |
Bamberg | Whitestone Crossroads | 60.64 | 97.59 | US 21 (Freedom Road) – Branchville, Beaufort | |
| 66.84– 67.05 | 107.57– 107.91 | US 78 (Heritage Highway) – Aiken, Bamberg, Branchville | Access to / from US 78 east via unsigned US 78 Conn. | |
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
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References
- ^ a b "Statewide Highways (shapefile)" (zip). South Carolina Department of Transportation. September 29, 2017. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
- ^ Bill Information - South Carolina Legislature Online
- ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ^ Wylie, Suzanne Pickens; Norman McCorkle (August 23, 1983). "Ashley River Road" (pdf). National Register of Historic Places - Nomination and Inventory. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
- ^ "Ashley River Road, Charleston County (S.C. Hwy. 61 btw. Church Creek & S.C. Hwy. 165, Charleston & Summerville vicinities, Charleston & Dorchester Counties)". National Register Properties in South Carolina. South Carolina Department of Archives and History. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
- ^ "A hurrah for Watson Hill". Post and Courier.
- ^ "Public weighs in on Watson Hill". Post and Courier.
External links
- Media related to South Carolina Highway 61 at Wikimedia Commons
- CharlestonWiki Highway 61 article
- SC 61 South Carolina Hwy Index
- Roads on the National Register of Historic Places in South Carolina
- State highways in South Carolina
- National Scenic Byways
- National Register of Historic Places in Dorchester County, South Carolina
- National Register of Historic Places in Charleston County, South Carolina
- Individually listed contributing properties to historic districts on the National Register in South Carolina
- Historic district contributing properties in South Carolina
- Transportation in Charleston, South Carolina
- Transportation in Dorchester County, South Carolina
- Transportation in Colleton County, South Carolina
- Transportation in Bamberg County, South Carolina