Interstate 185 South Carolina

Interstate 185 is the original spur into Greenville and is also the Southern Connector bypass to Mauldin. Together with Interstate 385, Interstate 185 provides a bypass around the Greenville metropolitan area in one direction and forms a business route into downtown Greenville in the other.

History

On December 9, 2000, the Route Numbering subcommittee of AASHTO approved the extension of Interstate 185 from Interstate 85 southeast to Interstate 385 in the vicinity of Greenville. The route was initially approved as a future route until the Federal Highway Administration approved the route.

Guide

Opened February 27, 2001, the new toll highway was complete and Interstate 185 became a Southern bypass (accomplished via a connection with Interstate 385) in addition to functioning as a spur entering Greenville from the southwest. The Southern Connector includes two toll plazas and four interchanges. These plazas levy a 75 cent toll each and carry four overall lanes per direction. They consist of one Palmetto Pass lane (transponder), one Exact Change lane, and two Cash lanes. Thus to travel the 14 mile connector is a $1.50 trip. The interchanges are as follows:¹

• Exit 1 - Interstate 385
• Toll Plaza
• Exit 4 - Fork Shoals Road
• Exit 7 AB - U.S. 25 Augusta Rd
• Toll Plaza
• Exit 10 - South Carolina 20 Piedmont Hwy
• Exit 12 - South Carolina 153
• Exit 14 - Interstate 85
• Exit 15 - northbound only - U.S. 25 White Horse Road
• Exit 16 - South Carolina 20 TO U.S. 25 Piedmont

Highway Guides

• Interstate 185 South Carolina

	Southern Terminus - Interstate 385 - Greenville, South Carolina Perspective from Interstate 185/U.S. 29 south Southbound (eastbound) Interstate 185 enters its final mile near Interstate 385 at Mauldin. The corridor of the Southern Connector is vastly rural and undeveloped at the present time. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (04/06/03). Now one half mile out from the conclusion of Interstate 185 south. The bypass was intended to offer Interstate 385 travelers a bypass of Greenville to the city of Atlanta and points south and west. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (04/06/03). Exit 1A departs for Neely Ferry Road and Standing Springs Road for the town of Mauldin. Traffic defaults onto Interstate 385 north, therefore Interstate 385 southbound traffic departs Exit 1B in 0.25 miles. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (04/06/03). Split of traffic for Interstate 385 north and Exit 1B/Interstate 385 south on Interstate 185 south. Simpsonville is located nearby to the southeast and sees the next two southbound Interstate 385 interchanges. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (04/06/03). An end Interstate 185 sign is posted on the northbound transition ramp to Interstate 385. Interstate 385 meets Interstate 85 in six miles and ends at downtown in 12 miles. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (04/06/03). Perspective from Interstate 385 north Interstate 385 northbound as it nears the joint beginning of Interstate 185 north and U.S. 276 west at Mauldin. The Southern Connector is signed with the control city of Atlanta, as the Georgia capital city is 147 miles to the west. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman/Andy Field/Carter Buchanan (10/14/01). The new beginning of Interstate 185 from Interstate 385 Northbound. This interchange originally only facilitated traffic to the beginning of U.S. 276. The original signage and interchange reconstruction can be seen in this 12/9/99 photo. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman/Andy Field/Carter Buchanan (10/14/01). Perspective from Interstate 385 south One mile guide sign for Exit 30/Interstate 185 northbound on Interstate 385 south. Exit 31 for South Carolina 14 to Mauldin and Simponsville departs within the next mile. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (04/06/03). One half mile north of the southern terminus of Interstate 185. Interstate 185 reconnects with Interstate 85 14 miles to the west. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (04/06/03). Interstate 185 northbound begins from Interstate 385 southbound. The northbound Interstate 385 return ramp from Interstate 185 can be seen in the background. Interstate 385 continues southward to Columbia via Interstate 26 in 90 miles. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (04/06/03). Historic Southern Terminus - Interstate 85 - southwest of Greenville, South Carolina Perspective from Interstate 85 south Southbound Interstate 85 at the original Southern terminus for Interstate 185. At the time of this photo, Interstate 85 was being widened to six lanes, with construction of the Interstate 185 extension well underway. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (12/08/99). Northern Terminus - U.S. 29 - Greenville, South Carolina Perspective from Interstate 185/U.S. 29 north Approaching the Northern terminus of Interstate 185 with associated End Freeway warning sign. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman/Andy Field/Carter Buchanan (10/14/01). A closer look at the end freeway sign of Interstate 185 north. U.S. 29 continues along a multi lane surface arterial (Church Street) into downtown Greenville. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (04/06/03). The final milepost (16) in view, Interstate 185 draws to a close. U.S. 29 travels northward one mile to South Carolina 20 (former Alternate U.S. 25) and three miles to the northern terminus of U.S. 123 and U.S. 276/Business Spur 385. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman/Andy Field/Carter Buchanan (10/14/01). The back of the first southbound Interstate 185 shield is seen to the left as U.S. 29 enters a signalized intersection. Greenville Memorial Hospital is to the east. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (04/06/03). Perspective from Interstate 185/U.S. 29 south The first southbound Interstate 185 reassurance shield. There are two southbound exits on the original alignment. They are Exit 16 for South Carolina 20 south and Exit 15 for U.S. 25. These were signed as Exit 1 and 2 before the Southern Connector was constructed. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (04/06/03).

Sources:

1. Buchanan, Carter. "Southern Connector (I-185) officially opened." Online posting, misc.transport.road, February 27, 2002.

Page Updated August 19, 2003.