Existed: 1964 – present North end: US 176 in Columbia Length 15.37 km | South end: SC 48 in Columbia Counties: Richland Constructed 1964 | |
County Richland County, South Carolina | ||
South Carolina Highway 16 (SC 16) is a 9.6-mile (15.4 km) long state highway that exists completely within Columbia, in Richland County. Its routing is in a backward C-shape.
Contents
Map of SC-16, Columbia, SC, USA
Route description
SC 16 begins at an intersection with SC 48, just south of the University of South Carolina. Going in a counterclockwise direction, it goes east to US 76/US 378 (Devine Street), then north intersecting with SC 12 (Forest Drive) and US 1 (Two Notch Road). Heading now west, it intersects with SC 555 (Farrow Road) before splitting into one-way streets: northbound along Marshall Street and southbound along Sunset Drive and Academy Street. SC 16 recombines onto Sunset Drive at the SC 277 (Northeastern Freeway) northbound on-ramps, flanked by the Palmetto Health Richland. Continuing east, SC 16 ends at US 176 (River Drive), approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) east of the Broad River.
Shaped as a backward C, it travels along the following street names: Rosewood Drive, Beltline Boulevard, Marshall Street/Academy Street, and Sunset Drive. Signage along the entire route is poorly marked with few signs indicating it is SC 16 and several major intersections not clearly marked.
History
Established in 1964, it pre-existed twice before in 1927-1931 and 1939-1948. The first SC 16 was an original state route from SC 2 (today US 176), in Columbia, north into North Carolina, continuing as NC 16; it connected the cities and towns of Ridgeway, Winnsboro, Chester, York, and Clover. In 1927, US 21 was assigned between Columbia and Chester; the following year SC 16 was removed from that section. In 1931,the first SC 16 was decommissioned when US 321 was assigned on the remaining route.
The second SC 16 appeared in 1939, as a new primary routing, between SC 48 east to US 76, in Columbia. In 1940, it was extended north from US 76 to SC 12. In 1948, the second SC 16 was decommissioned, downgraded to secondary roads.
The third and current SC 16 eventually resurrects part of its previous route. Reappearing in 1964, as a new primary routing, it traversed from its current northern terminus at US 176 east to US 76/US 378/SC 760. In 1982, SC 16 was extended west to its current southern terminus at SC 48; this left behind Cross Hill Road and its connection to SC 760.
Junction list
The entire route is in Columbia, Richland County.