| Traffic for South Carolina 453 departs Interstate 26 eastbound.
The highway travels six miles north to Junction U.S. 176 at Holly Hill (pop. 1,281). The highway enters Holly Hill
as Gardiner Boulevard before turning onto U.S. 176 (State Street) for a three block overlap to Eutaw Road.
Photo taken 01/18/04.
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| One-mile guide sign of Exit 187 (South Carolina 27) on Interstate
26 eastbound. South Carolina 27 (Ridgeville Road) travels 11 miles between U.S. 176 (State Road) and
U.S. 78 near Ridgeville (pop. 1,690). Photo taken 01/18/04.
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| Eastbound at the Exit 187 diamond interchange with South
Carolina 27 (Ridgeville Road). Ridgeville Road splits between a north and south branch of U.S. 78. In between
a 0.4-mile overlap occurs between South Carolina 27 and U.S. 78. Ridgeville Road becomes Church Street at
South Carolina 173 in Ridgeville. The state continues from there seven miles to its terminus at Givhans
and South Carolina 61. Photo taken 01/18/04.
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| Interstate 26 skims the western reaches of Berkeley County
en route to Exit 194 with Road 16 (Jedburg Road). The north-south road travels between U.S. 78 at Jedburg
to Pinopolis on the shores of Lake Moultrie. Photo taken 01/18/04.
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| Auxiliary guide sign of Foreign Trade Zone 21 for the Exit
194 diamond interchange with Road 16. Photo taken 01/18/04.
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| Interstate 26 eastbound enters the Exit 194 Road 16 (Jedburg Road)
interchange. Jedburg Road travels five miles north to Junction U.S. 176 (State Road). There Cooper Store
Road takes over for Jedburg on the trek to South Carolina 6 and Pinopolis. Pinopolis lies 15 miles north of
Exit 194. Photo taken 01/18/04.
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| U.S. 17 Alternate (Main Street) intersects Interstate 26
at Exit 199 near Summerville (pop. 27,752). The bannered route bypasses the Charleston metropolitan area inland
between Georgetown (pop. 8,950) and Yemassee (pop. 807). Photo taken 01/18/04.
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| The junction between Interstate 26 and U.S. 17 Alternate constitutes
a full cloverleaf interchange. Pictured in this eastbound photograph is the Exit 199A off-ramp for U.S. 17A
southbound (Main Street) into Summerville. Main Street travels less than two miles to Junction U.S. 78.
Photo taken 01/18/04.
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| Interstate 26 expands to six overall lanes between Exit 199
and the southern terminus at Charleston. Pictured here is the 0.75-mile guide sign of Exit 203 for College
Park Road. The freeway enters Charleston County just south of the College Park Road diamond interchange.
Photo taken 01/18/04.
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| College Park Road composes a surface boulevard between U.S. 78
and Ladson Road at Ladson (pop. 13,264) to U.S. 17 Alternate (Main Street) through the community of Goose Creek
(pop. 29,208). Photo taken 01/18/04.
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| U.S. 78 (University Boulevard) crosses Interstate 26 from
Ladson to the west at the Exit 205 five-ramp partial cloverleaf interchange. University Boulevard merges
with U.S. 52 to form Rivers Avenue 2.25 miles to the east. Photo taken 01/18/04.
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| Exit 205A carries Interstate 26 eastbound motorists westward
onto U.S. 78 (University Boulevard) west for Ladson and Summerville. Since the freeway already has passed
those communities, no control point is featured for Exit 205A. Photo taken 01/18/04.
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| Exit 205B departs Interstate 26 east for U.S. 78 (University
Boulevard) eastbound to U.S. 52 and Goose Creek. U.S. 52 & 78 overlap southward along Rivers Avenue into
the city of Charleston. Photo taken 01/18/04.
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| A centerline posted upcoming exits sign highlights the next
three interchanges of Interstate 26 eastbound. Exits 209, 211, and 212 serve the city of North Charleston
(pop. 79,641). Photo taken 01/18/04.
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| The east-west divided Ashley Phosphate Road intersects Interstate
26 at Exit 209. The interchange occurs just south of the partial "Y" interchange with the U.S. 52 & 78
connector (Exit 208 northbound). Photo taken 01/18/04.
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| Interstate 26 eastbound at Exit 209 (Ashley Phosphate Road).
Ashley Phosphate Road travels between South Carolina 642 (Dorchester Road) and U.S. 52 & 78 (Rivers Avenue).
The off-ramp of Exit 209 actually comprises a slip ramp to the adjacent Northside Drive. In the background
of the photograph is the return ramp from the Exit 208 U.S. 52 & 78 connector onto Interstate 26 east.
Photo taken 01/18/04.
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| The next three interchanges of North Charleston are
displayed on this upcoming exits sign posted south of Ashley Phosphate Road. A full cloverleaf comprises the
next interchange of the freeway, that of Exits 211A/B with Aviation Avenue. Photo taken 01/18/04.
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| The one-mile guide sign of Exits 211A/B (Aviation Boulevard)
is posted near the Eagle Drive overpass. A southbound frontage road begins from Eagle Drive. The road
(Fain Boulevard) continues to the intersection of Ward Avenue and Aviation Avenue.
Photo taken 01/18/04.
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| Traffic utilizing Exit 211B for Aviation Avenue westbound
end up on Rivers Avenue (U.S. 52 & 78) just east of Interstate 26. Remount Road stems eastward from Rivers
Avenue to the suburb of Hanahan to the South Carolina Ports Authority. The road begins 0.4 miles south of
the Aviation Avenue intersection with U.S. 52 & 78. Photo taken 01/18/04.
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| Aviation Avenue westbound provides access to nearby Charleston
Air Force Base. A north-south version of Aviation Avenue encircles the Air Force Base & International Airport
grounds between Scott Street and International Boulevard (the access road to the Airport terminal).
Photo taken 01/18/04.
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| Interstate 26 eastbound at the loop ramp to Aviation Avenue
eastbound and Remount Road (Exit 211B). The first guide sign of upcoming Exits 212B/C of Interstate 526 is
posted here. Photo taken 01/18/04.
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| An auxiliary lane adds to Interstate 26 eastbound between
Aviation Avenue and Interstate 526. The lane defaults onto the Exit 212B/C collector/distributor roadway
of the Mark Clark Expressway. Photo taken 01/18/04.
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| The Exit 212B/C collector/distributor roadway departs the
Interstate 26 eastbound mainline for Interstate 526. Interstate 526 encircles the city of Charleston
to the north. The freeway begins at U.S. 17 (Savannah Highway) west of the city. To the east the Mark Clark
Expressway crosses the high level Cooper River and Wando River Bridges en route to U.S. 17 & Business Spur
Interstate 526 (Coleman BoulevarD) and the city of Mount Pleasant (pop. 47,609). Photo taken 01/18/04.
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| A set of overheads partitions traffic on the Exit 212B/C
c/d roadway for Interstate 526 east and west. The interchange between the two freeways comprises a directional
cloverleaf with a high speed ramp from Interstate 526 east to Interstate 26 west. There is no Exit 212A in the
eastbound direction of Interstate 26. Exit 212A exists on westbound however for Airport and Remount
Roads. Photo taken 01/18/04.
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| Traffic to the Mark Clark Expressway partitions between
Exits 212B and C. The first interchange of Interstate 526 west serves Charleston International Airport. The
freeway otherwise continues southward across the Ashley River into western reaches of Charleston.
The western segment composes the original Mark Clark Expressway segment. The highway originally carried the
designation South Carolina 31. Plans exist to extend the freeway southward to James Island where
the Interstate would tie into the South Carolina 30 James Island Freeway from downtown. The missing segment
of the Charleston Beltway remains unconstructed due to costs and environmental concerns. Photos taken 01/18/04.
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|
| Attached to the Interstate 526 eastbound ramp to Intestate 26
west is an auxiliary guide sign for Exit 213B. Montague Avenue, an east-west surface arterial, intersects the
freeway ahead via six-ramp partial cloverleaf interchange. The westbound direction sees a second off-ramp
depart for nearby Mall Drive. Traffic on Interstate 26 eastbound must take Montague Avenue eastbound to
a signalized intersection with Mall Drive itself. Photo taken 01/18/04.
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| The left-hand lane remains restricted to commercial truckers
on Interstate 26 through Charleston. The restriction applies to the entire six-lane segment of the freeway.
Departing in the southward facing photograph is Exit 213A for Montague Avenue westbound. Montague Avenue
intersects Interstate 526 one mile to the west before ending at South Carolina 624 (Dorchester Road).
Photo taken 01/18/04.
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| A loop ramp carries eastbound motorists to Montague Avenue
east and Mall Drive at Exit 213B. Montague Avenue travels eastward through North Charleston to Rivers
Avenue (U.S. 52 & 78), Park Circle, and Spruill Avenue, before ending at Virginia Avenue near the Charleston
Navy Base. Photo taken 01/18/04.
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| Interstate 26 ascends over a CSX railroad line one mile north
of the Exit 215 diamond interchange with South Carolina 642 (Dorchester Road). Dorchester Road provides
a divided surface arterial between U.S. 52 & 78 (Rivers Avenue) and Summerville. Photo taken 01/18/04.
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| Interstate 26 eastbound at Exit 215 (South Carolina 642).
The state highway ends nearby at U.S. 52 & 78. Situated nearby the terminus is the U.S. Naval Hospital and eastern
end of South Carolina 7 (Cosgrove Avenue). Photo taken 01/18/04.
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| Exit 216A auxiliary guide sign for Charles Towne Landing
and Folley Beach. South Carolina 7 (Old Towne Boulevard) serves these locales to the southwest of the Ashley
River. Photo taken 01/18/04.
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| Interstate 26 curves southeast at the Azalea Drive overcrossing.
Posted here is Exit 216B guide sign for the H.L. Hunley Submarine exhibit. The Hunley was a confederate submarine
sunk during the Civil War in Charleston Harbor. The vessel was the first submarine ever constructed.
Photo taken 01/18/04.
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| The Exit 216 cloverleaf interchange with South Carolina 7
(Cosgrove Avenue) resides alongside the Ashley River. Departing here is the Exit 216A off-ramp for Cosgrove
Avenue southbound. South Carolina 7 travels five miles to the confluence of Interstate 526 and U.S. 17
(Savannah Highway). There the state highway draws to a close. Photo taken 01/18/04.
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| Exit 216B leaves Interstate 26 eastbound for Cosgrove Avenue
northbound. South Carolina 7 travels the surface arterial northward for its final mile. The state highway
ends at Rivers Avenue (U.S. 52 & 78) near Charleston Navy Base. Photo taken 01/18/04.
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| U.S. 52 & 78 split between South Carolina 7 (Cosgrove Avenue)
and Meeting Street. U.S. 52 remains east of U.S. 78 along Camer Avenue. U.S. 78 follows Rivers Avenue
and the King Street Extension between U.S. 52 and Interstate 26. Exit 217 represents a partial "Y"
interchange from Interstate 26 east onto Meeting Street (U.S. 52). U.S. 52 merges onto Meeting Street from
Camer Avenue one half mile to the north of the Exit 217 off-ramp. Photo taken 01/18/04.
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| Interstate 26 enters the city limits of Charleston at the
Exit 217 partial "Y" interchange. The ramp above passes over U.S. 78 (King Street) before descending upon
U.S. 52 (Meeting Street) southbound. Photo taken 01/18/04.
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| A second partial "Y" interchange returns U.S. 52 & 78
and Spruill Avenue motorists onto Interstate 26 eastbound. Posted at the overcrossing of the Exit 218 on-ramp
is the Exit 219A guide sign for Rutledge Avenue. Photo taken 01/18/04.
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| Interstate 26 travels north-south on the Charleston Peninsula.
The alignment sees a third partial "Y" interchange at Exit 219A for Rutledge Avenue. The north-south surface
street serves The Citadel (the Military College of South Carolina). Photo taken 01/18/04.
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| The eastbound off-ramp of Exit 219A provides the beginning
or Rutledge Avenue southbound. Rutledge Avenue continues from the interchange southward into Downtown.
Photo taken 01/18/04.
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| A half-diamond interchange provides the movements of Exit 219B
between Interstate 26 and Mount Pleasant Street. The eastbound off-ramp descends into the intersection of
Enston Avenue at Mount Pleasant Street. Traffic turns left (east) for three blocks to the beginning of Morrison
Drive. Morrison Drive straddles the eastern edge of the city street grid between U.S. 52 (Meeting Street)
and Columbus Street east of Downtown. At Columbus Street, the north-south arterial becomes East Bay Street.
The official South Carolina State Map indicates that Morrison Drive and East Bay Street comprise U.S. 52
Spur. Photo taken 01/18/04.
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| Construction begins for an interchange with the new U.S. 17
Charleston River Bridge at the on-ramp from Cypress and Brigade Street. The new viaduct and bridge will
replace
the Aug. 8, 1929 opened two-lane John P. Grace Bridge (U.S. 17 southbound) and the April 29, 1966 opened
three-lane Silas Pearman Bridge (U.S. 17 northbound).1 The current bridges see a truck ban (5 ton
weight restriction) on the Grace Bridge
due to structural deficiencies. Therefore one of the three lanes on the Pearman Bridge is allocated for
trucks only in thewestbound direction. Until the 1980s this lane was reversible.
See South Carolina @ SouthEastRoads - U.S. Highway 17
for photos and additional background information. Photo taken 01/18/04.
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| Traffic merges onto Interstate 26 eastbound from Cypress and Brigade
Streets. A towering flyover takes shape for the future U.S. 17 Cooper River Bridge. The new cable-stayed
bridge will be 50 feet higher than existing cantilever structures. Photo taken 01/18/04.
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| The high level flyovers will carry ramps one mile eastward onto
the new U.S. 17 crossing. Towers from the future bridge can be seen from several miles out on Interstate 26.
The towers reach 575 feet into the air!1 See
CooperRiverBridge.org for details
and updates covering the bridge construction. Photo taken 01/18/04.
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| Exit 221A/B provides the final interchange of Interstate 26
eastbound at downtown Charleston. Exit 221A carries motorists onto U.S. 17 (Septima Clark Expressway) southbound
ahead of the off-ramp to King Street (U.S. 78). Exit 221B carries the mainline onto Meeting Street
and U.S. 17 north. Photo taken 01/18/04.
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| The ramps from the new U.S. 17 bridge will tie into Interstate 26
to create a brief overlap between the two highways. The Septima Clark Expressway east of Interstate 26 will
be removed upon completion of the new bridge. As for the span itself, eight-lanes will carry motorists
almost 200 feet above the high tide mark of Cooper River below. Also featured will be a pedestrian/bike lane
overlooking Charleston Harbor.1 Every year the Silas Pearman Bridge is used for the
Cooper River Bridge Run. Upon opening of
the new bridge, the run will shift to the new span. Photo taken 01/18/04.
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| Interstate 26 eastbound traffic splits into two two-lane
off-ramps (Exits 221A/B). Pier supports are in place to carry U.S. 17 southbound motorists from the new
bridge onto the original expressway and Spring Street westbound. The bridge will be North America's longest
cable stayed bridge. Photo taken 01/18/04.
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| Exit 221A departs Interstate 26 eastbound for U.S. 17
south and King Street (U.S. 78). A loop ramp departs U.S. 17 just west of the Interstate 26 terminal
for King Street. U.S. 78 ends at the junction. Photo taken 01/18/04.
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| An adjacent railroad line requires the ramp to U.S. 17 south
& King Street to rise dramatically above the Exit 221B ramp below. Ahead is the U.S. 17 northbound on-ramp
to Interstate 26 west and the U.S. 17 (Septima Clark Expressway) southbound mainline. Photo taken 01/18/04.
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| The Exit 221B off-ramp partitions between U.S. 17 north to
Mount Pleasant (pop. 30,108) and Meeting Street. U.S. 52 follows Meeting Street to the U.S. 17 freeway
interchange. From there the surface street continues southward to the Battery. Photo taken 01/18/04.
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| Taking the Exit 221B ramp to U.S. 17 northbound from Interstate
26 east. The northbound mainline and Interstate 26 westbound beginning from U.S. 17 north are situated overhead.
Photo taken 01/18/04.
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| The Exit 221B off-ramp merges onto U.S. 17 (Septima Clark Expressway)
just ahead of the E. Bay Street off-ramp. The original Cooper River cantilever bridges of U.S. 17 (John P. Grace
and Silas Pearman Bridges) are visible in the background. The U.S. 17 viaduct and ramps from Interstate 26
to northbound will be dismantled upon completion of the new span. The Exit 221B off-ramp will only serve
Meeting Street. Photo taken 01/18/04.
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Page Updated February 15, 2004.
