Existed: 1922 – present Constructed 1922 | Length 162.1 km | |
Counties Barnwell County, South Carolina | ||
South Carolina Highway 39 (SC 39) is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The highway connects various rural communities and towns from the southwest to the northwest sections of the state.
Contents
Map of SC-39, South Carolina, USA
Route description
SC 39 is a two-lane rural highway that travels 100.7 miles (162.1 km) from the Savannah River Site to US 221, south of Laurens.
History
Established in 1922 as an original state highway, traveling from SC 12, in Monetta, to SC 21, in Edgefield. In 1923, SC 39 was extended in both directions: west to SC 20, in Modoc, and southeast to SC 4, in Springfield. By 1926, it was extended south again to SC 27, in Williston. The first section of SC 39 to be paved was from Johnston to Edgefield, in 1030.
In 1936, SC 39 was rerouted at Ridge Spring north through Saluda and Cross Hill, before ending at US 221, south of Laurens; it replaced a majority of SC 392, while the old alignment became an extension of SC 23. By 1938, SC 39 was extended in both directions again: north to Ware Shoals then west to US 178, in Shoals Junction; and southwest from Williston to SC 64, in Dunbarton.
In 1940, SC 39 was extended south to SC 28/SC 282 (today's SC 125, near Millett. By 1942, SC 39 reached its apex with an extension into Millett, giving it a length of over 145 miles (233 km). By 1946, all of SC 39 was paved, with its last section between SC 391 and US 1.
In 1948, SC 39 was truncated at SC 64, in Dunbarton, leaving behind existing Furse Mill Road (S-30-17) and Rolling Hills Road (S-30-24). Between US 221 and Ware Shoals, that section of SC 39 was downgraded to secondary roads: Indian Mound Road (S-30-6) and Power House Road (S-30-47); this also created a gap as SC 39 was still between Ware Shoals and Shoals Junction. In 1951 or 1952, the discontinuous piece of SC 39 between Ware Shoals and Shoals Junction was renumbered as SC 420. Also in same period, SC 39 was truncated to its current southern terminus at the Savannah River Site boundary near a realigned routing of SC 28 (today's US 278); a majority of its former route now within the Savannah River Site still exist, though sections have been removed or submerge under Par Pond.