The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT), in partnership with Spartanburg County, the University of South Carolina Spartanburg, the Spartanburg County Legislative Delegation and the South Carolina State Infrastructure Bank, held a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday, Aug. 21, for the Interstate 585 project.

The purpose of the I-585 Improvement project is to bring US 176 up to federal interstate standards, provide for controlled access, to coordinate with the infrastructure improvement efforts of the University of South Carolina Spartanburg and to facilitate anticipated future growth in the area.

"The I-585 improvement project is a long awaited and anticipated project and will serve the needs of the traveling public and this community for many years to come," said SCDOT Commissioner Howell Clyborne, representing the 4th Congressional District. "It is an excellent example of cooperation and partnering between state agencies and the local community."

SCDOT Commission Chairman Tee Hooper said, "This project has all the right ingredients to be successful. It has cooperation and partnering between state agencies, the local community and the federal government. The needs of the traveling public and the infrastructure needs of a growing university will be met in the same project."

SCDOT Executive Director Elizabeth S. Mabry thanked several individuals and organizations for making the I-585 Improvement Project a reality: The Spartanburg Legislative Delegation, the State Infrastructure Bank Board, the Federal Highway Administration, the Spartanburg County Council, the Spartanburg Area Transportation Study (SPATS), the Grambling family, USC Spartanburg and Roger Milliken.

"I am very proud that so many partners joined together for this wonderful project to benefit the Spartanburg community and the state of South Carolina," Mabry said.

The project will provide a new interchange from US 176 to the USCS campus and East Campus Boulevard. The project will replace the bridge over Business I-85 and the Valley Falls Road bridge over US 176. Two new bridges and a fly-over ramp will be provided for westbound and eastbound US 176 traffic at the new East Campus Boulevard interchange. (Complete project details on FACT SHEET).