Existed: 1926 – present Constructed 1926 | Length 69 km | |
South end: US 501 outside of Latta North end: NC 38 at North Carolina state line near Hamlet Counties Marion County, South Carolina, Dillon County, South Carolina, Marlboro County, South Carolina | ||
South Carolina Highway 38 is a state highway that extends from US 501 in Marion County to Marlboro County near Hamlet, North Carolina. The route runs generally south-to-north across the eastern portion of the state, and is one of the most popular routes to Myrtle Beach.
Contents
Map of SC-38, South Carolina, USA
Route description
Starting at US 501, SC 38 proceeds in a northerly direction across US 301 and Interstate 95 through Blenheim and Bennettsville to end at the North Carolina state line, where it continues as NC 38.
History
SC 38 was one of the first highways in the South Carolina state system, originally running from Myrtle Beach through Socastee and Conway to Marion and Latta. The section east of Conway became US 117 in 1932 and later SC 544, SC 707, and S-28-15. The section north of Conway became US 501 and SC 319 in 1935.
East of Bennettsville, SC 38 originally went through McColl, South Carolina and entered North Carolina near Laurinburg. In the mid-1920s SC 30 (now US 401) replaced the section east of Bennettsville. Then SC 38 was extended to Gibson, North Carolina around 1930. In 1938, SC 96 became SC 38 north of Bennettsville, and the road followed its current route for the first time in that area. The former SC 38 became SC 79 and later SC 385.
In 1953, the section of SC 38 east of the current I-95 became SC 917, and the former SC 380 became SC 38, giving the road its approximate current route on the south end.
A dangerous intersection at US 301 and the CSX railroad was replaced with an interchange.
In 1983, a bypass was built around Bennettsville, with the previous SC 38 designated as SC 38 Business.
During a 15-year period starting in the early 90s, SC 38 was widened to four lanes, with medians in some areas and a center turn lane in others, in stages from Bennettsville to US. 501
In 2005, highway officials from North and South Carolina met and passed a resolution designating that Interstate 73 would be built along the route of SC 38. However, a 2008 project map shows the likely I-73 route running east of 38. In June 2012, though, Miley and Associates of Columbia, South Carolina recommended improvements to SC 38 and US 501 to create the Grand Strand Expressway (GSX), a position long held by the Coastal Conservation League, which asked for the study. SC Representative Alan Clemmons, head of the National I-73 Corridor Association, said such a plan had been considered but was not likely.