Business Route 85 - Interstate Business Loop Guide
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Interstate Business Route 85

Interstate 85 has two business routes, one in North Carolina and the other in South Carolina. In addition, the northern end of Interstate 385 has a short business spur entering Greenville. Finally, the southern end of Interstate 585 has a short business spur entering Spartanburg.

SOUTH CAROLINA
Spartanburg Active Routing: Business Loop Freeway; bypassed by new Interstate 85 in 1995. AASHTO approved this designation on April 2, 1995. Business Loop I-85 is only connection to Interstate 585, a spur route into Spartanburg. In August 2000, the business loop was named "Veterans Parkway."

Background: What is now signed as Business 85 in Spartanburg was, until 1995, I-85. While the newly-rebuilt I-85 around the north side of Spartanburg was being constructed, it was signed as Business 85 while what is now signed as Business 85 kept its original I-85 designation -- thus, when I-585 was opened, it did connect to a "real" Interstate, but a "real" Interstate groaning under the weight of the traffic it was handling. When the "new road" around Spartanburg was completed it was re-signed as I-85 and the old 85 was re-signed as Business 85.

Commentary: Carter Buchanan writes, "I don't really know the reasoning behind redesignating original Interstate 85 as Business 85. Personally, I would have favored an Interstate 685 designation since the road seems to be Interstate-quality. It would have eliminated the little 2-mile Interstate 585 spur from being a "island" Interstate spur (SCDOT has plans to extend Interstate 585 to the Interstate 85 Bypass sometime in the future). However, the route has not caused any confusion as far as I know. Signage is great on the route. First off, when the new Interstate 85 Bypass was opened they added new overhead signage prior to the entrances to Business 85 at Exit 69 on the south end and Exit 77 on the north end. And it specifically directs traffic "Business 85 Spartanburg" and for traffic to Charlotte or Greenville to stay on the Bypass. Also, when on Business 85 there are numerous shields designating it as Bus. Loop 85." Carter further posted to MTR, "With the coming of Business Loop I-85 in Spartanburg, I had a pretty good impression of Business Loop Interstates: You get to see the town and not worry about signals. I'll admit I was spoiled. [Later I took] my first trip on Business Loop I-85 around Lexington and Thomasville, North Carlina, and later some of the Business Loop I-75s in Georgia, and I developed a sour taste of Business Loops from that day on. I could see why all the Businesses along Business Loop I-85 in South Carolina hated the designation. Admittedly, I was angry that such a high quality road was designated almost like a surface street. To me, that's exactly why the Spartanburg Hospitality Association wants a Interstate 685 or whatever designation." As a tangent to Business Loop I-85 in Spartanburg, Alex refers to Interstate 585 as the twin of Interstate 180 in Wyoming. He says that this is true due to the substandard design of the highway, which features driveways to some businesses and traffic lights at the southern end.

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The Future: On March 16, 2000, Mike Whitt wrote that the Spartanburg (SC) Hospitality Association petitioned SCDOT to redesignate Business 85 to I-685 in Spring 2000; however, this effort has since floundered and indefinitely tabled as of September 2000. Since the "New" I-85 opened a few years ago, traffic on Business Loop 85 has died and a several businesses, especially hotels, are hurting. The hospitality association (which Mike represents) chose "I-685" because it obviously meets the Interstate numbering convention established by AASHTO. I-285 (The Atlanta perimeter highway) is too close, Interstate 485 is Charlotte's "Outerbelt" and only 75 miles away, and Interstate 885 doesn't yet exist. According to Mike, Interstate 685 just sounds better. In the end, they retained Business Loop I-85 and the new name of Veterans Parkway. (Perhaps they were trying to copy Business Loop I-55 in Bloomington-Normal, Illinois?) On December 14, 2000, Mike wrote: "Earlier this year, the Spartanburg (SC) Hospitality Association petitioned the South Carolina Department of transportation (SCDOT) to designate Business Loop 85 as Interstate 685. According to SCDOT that change would require $150 million dollars. The SHA believes the 150 million was a "scare" tactic by SCDOT. Since the community was generally apathetic and non-supportive about the issue we "compromised" on the signage. SCDOT offered to place "FREEWAY LOOP" adjacent to the BL-85 shields on the signage approaching exits 69 and 77 on I-85. The words "FREEWAY LOOP" are now on the overhead signs approaching BL-85 on I-85 at exits 69 and 77. What have I learned from this experience. One, dealing with an agency like SCDOT can test your patience. The bureaucrats in Columbia don't have a clue when it comes to understanding the needs of the public. Two, unless the public is 100% behind you the bureaucracy will not budge. This issue never really resonated in the community. Three, I am now a believer in pay-as-you go privately financed toll roads. Government-financed road projects take too long to plan and complete and cost way too much. There is no way taxpayers are going to pay the billions needed to bring our nation's road network into the 21st century. Is 685 dead? I hope not. The SHA will try again in 2001 or 2002 to convince the public that too many motorists and dollars are bypassing Spartanburg."

NORTH CAROLINA
Lexington, High Point, Greensboro Active Cosigned with U.S. 29 and U.S. 70, this business route serves Lexington, High Point, and Greensboro. With the completion of the Interstate 85 Greensboro Bypass in January 2004, this business route has two segments: it follows the U.S. 29-70 expressway (original section) and a portion of the former Interstate 85 freeway (new section). The business loop connects the expressway and freeway segments with Interstate 85 between Exits 118 and 120. North of Exit 120, the business loop extends north over the former Interstate 85 freeway routing into Greensboro, with a brief merge with Interstate 40 through Greensboro to rejoin Interstate 85 east of town. As a result of this extension, the exit numbering of the business loop freeway will include the mileage of the original loop through Lexington and High Point. As an aside, the section of Interstate 40 that merges with Business Loop I-85 through Greensboro will eventually become an extension of Business Loop I-40 freeway from Winston-Salem, as Interstate 40 will be rerouted onto the Greensboro Bypass. The new alignment of Interstate 85 around Greensboro was approved on May 14, 2004, by AASHTO. The old alignment of Interstate 85 was approved as an extension of Business Loop I-85.

SOUTH CAROLINA
Greenville Active/Unsigned Much of this following information is provided by Carter Buchanan, a resident of Greenville. This is little-known Business Spur is located at the northernmost end of Interstate 385, and it is mostly unsigned. The only signs for Business Spur I-385 are along U.S. 276 (Stone Avenue) at Interstate 385 Exit 42. Business Spur I-385 is locally known as East North Street. Coming straight into Greenville on Interstate 385, through traffic into downtown defaults onto the business spur after passing Exit 42. Through traffic passing Exit 42 never know they transitioned from Interstate 395 to Business Spur I-385. After Interstate 385 ends, there are no reassurance signs on the road itself. The only place where shields designate Business Spur I-385 are under the overpass on U.S. 276 (note that U.S. 276 and U.S. 123 do not connect anymore; instead, U.S. 276 bypasses to the east of U.S. 123). On the other hand, if you are on U.S. 123 or U.S. 29, all the state and city has posted are "To Interstate 385" trailblazers. Business Spur I-385, connects with U.S. 123 midway at grade and probably ends at U.S. 29. The actual length is about one-half to three-quarter mile. Note that there is no Business Spur I-185, as Interstate 185 dead ends at a traffic light intersection with U.S. 29 continuing northward.

SOUTH CAROLINA
Spartanburg Active In Spartanburg, a tricolor Business Spur I-585 shield is still in place near the south end of Interstate 585. Carter Buchanan indicated that this very old red, white, and blue sign has "business" where "Interstate" normally would be and the word "spur" where the state name would be. Apparently the business spur only covers the non-freeway section of Interstate 585, but even the freeway section is not fully access-controlled. It is unclear if this designation is in place officially, but at least one sign corroborates its existence.

Page Updated March 25, 2006.