Existed: 1995 – present North end: I-85 near Spartanburg Length 12.9 km | South end: I-85 near Wellford Counties: Spartanburg Constructed 1995 | |
County Spartanburg County, South Carolina | ||
Interstate 85 Business is a Business Loop of the Interstate Highway System and a freeway running along the old route of Interstate 85 through Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States. It is the only freeway to connect with Interstate 585, which is now an isolated piece of the Interstate Highway System (as Business Loops are not considered part of the IHS).
Contents
Map of I-85BL, Spartanburg, SC, USA
History
This is one of two separate freeway segments to carry the Business I-85 designation. The other segment exists in the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina, and it was also a former alignment of I-85. The old exit numbers are gone.
Established in 1995 when Interstate 85 was placed on new freeway bypassing north of Spartanburg. The old alignment, which was originally built as a Super two for US 29, was upgraded to a 4-lane freeway when Interstate 85 was established, in 1959. In 1962, US 29 was realigned back through downtown Spartanburg. Since 1959, few improvements have been made along the route, which is why it is labeled a substandard freeway.
Spartanburg civic leaders in 2000 proposed that it become Interstate 685, but was turned down by SCDOT because of cost of upgrades. As a compromise, the signage was amended calling it a "Freeway Loop" at both end points along Interstate 85.
Exit list
The entire route is in Spartanburg County.