South Carolina Highway 61
Encyclopedia
South Carolina Highway 61 is a 67.3 miles (108.3 km) long highway in the U.S. state
of South Carolina
. The highway is designated on an east–west direction, from U.S. Route 78 near Branchville to South Carolina Highway 30
in Charleston. The portion of Highway 61 from Church Creek Bridge and ten miles (16 km) north is designated a National Scenic Byway
.
from Highway 171 to SC 165
. It is four lanes near Sam Rittenberg Blvd., but becomes two lanes through the scenic stretch. Along the two-lane stretch, there are many large oaks and historic plantations.
The Highway 61/Ashley River Road exit from I-526 actually exists onto Paul Cantrell Boulevard.
Points of interest along Ashley River Road:
annexed the 6,600-acre tract known as Watson Hill. The tract was sold by MeadWestvaco to private developers who then requested the annexation by North Charleston. The town of Summerville tried to rush an annexation to block North Charleston which ended in a court battle. Summerville later rescinded and backed away from its annexation attempt. The slump in the economy, 2008-2010, forced these developers to sell and the property was repurchased by MeadWestvaco. A plan for lower density development was then presented to North Charleston. It is obvious that more houses equates to more traffic on the already congested two-lane road. The people living in the homes want the road widened for them. Developers want it widened to justify building more homes. However, expanding the road will require the removal of many of the oak trees. Because the oaks are the reason that the highway was granted National Scenic Byway status, removal of the oaks will cause it to lose the status and lose National Scenic Byway Federal funding for maintenance.
A recent public meeting suggested that if development is to occur, instead of widening Ashley River Road to alleviate congestion, Glenn McConnell Parkway, also known as SC Highway 461, could be extended beyond its terminus at Bees Ferry Road. This is possible since Glenn McConnell Parkway runs parallel to Highway 61.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
. The highway is designated on an east–west direction, from U.S. Route 78 near Branchville to South Carolina Highway 30
South Carolina Highway 30
South Carolina Highway 30 is a long freeway in Charleston, South Carolina, United States. The freeway runs from South Carolina Highway 171 on James Island to U.S. Route 17 in downtown Charleston.- Route description :SC 30 begins at South Carolina Highway 171 on James Island, at exit 3...
in Charleston. The portion of Highway 61 from Church Creek Bridge and ten miles (16 km) north is designated a National Scenic Byway
National Scenic Byway
A National Scenic Byway is a road recognized by the United States Department of Transportation for its archeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational, and/or scenic qualities. The program was established by Congress in 1991 to preserve and protect the nation's scenic but often...
.
St. Andrew's Boulevard
The east-most section of Highway 61 is named St. Andrew's Boulevard. This section runs from Highway 17 to Highway 171. It is mostly residential buildings that have been rezoned commercial.Ashley River Road
Ashley River Road is the portion of Highway 61 that runs through Charleston near the Ashley RiverAshley River (South Carolina)
The Ashley River is a blackwater / tidal river in South Carolina, rising from the Wassamassaw and Great Cypress Swamps in western Berkeley County. It consolidates its main channel about five miles west of Summerville, widening into a tidal estuary just south of Fort Dorchester...
from Highway 171 to SC 165
South Carolina Highway 165
South Carolina Highway 165 is a 22.5 mile highway that connects U.S. 17 in Ravenel to U.S. 17 Alt. just north of Summerville. From Ravenel to S.C. 61, the highway is very rural, only to become a congested urban highway to its junction with U.S. 17 Alt.....
. It is four lanes near Sam Rittenberg Blvd., but becomes two lanes through the scenic stretch. Along the two-lane stretch, there are many large oaks and historic plantations.
The Highway 61/Ashley River Road exit from I-526 actually exists onto Paul Cantrell Boulevard.
Points of interest along Ashley River Road:
- Magnolia Plantation and GardensMagnolia Plantation and Gardens (Charleston, South Carolina)Magnolia Plantation and Gardens is a historic house with gardens located on the Ashley River at 3550 Ashley River Road, Charleston County, South Carolina, United States. It is one of the oldest plantations in the south, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The house and gardens...
and the Audubon Swamp GardenAudubon Swamp GardenAudubon Swamp Garden is a cypress and tupelo swamp on the grounds of Magnolia Plantation near Charleston, South Carolina. At one time, the swamp served as a reservoir for the plantation's rice cultivation... - Middleton PlaceMiddleton PlaceMiddleton Place is a plantation in Dorchester County, directly across the Ashley River from North Charleston and about northwest of Charleston, in the U.S. state of South Carolina...
Plantation - Shadowmoss Plantation
Beech Hill Road
Beech Hill Road is the section of Highway 61 that runs from Highway 165 to Highway 17A. The Legend Oaks Plantation is south of this section of highway.Augusta Highway
Augusta Highway is the longest section of Highway 61 from Highway 17A to the west-most end of Highway 61 where it merges into Highway 78.Major Intersections
SC 30South Carolina Highway 30South Carolina Highway 30 is a long freeway in Charleston, South Carolina, United States. The freeway runs from South Carolina Highway 171 on James Island to U.S. Route 17 in downtown Charleston.- Route description :SC 30 begins at South Carolina Highway 171 on James Island, at exit 3...
in James IslandJames Island, South CarolinaJames Island is a former town in Charleston County, South Carolina, United States. It is located in the central and southern parts of James Island. As defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, and used by the U.S...
US 17U.S. Route 17 in South CarolinaIn the U.S. state of South Carolina, U.S. Route 17 is a north–south highway located near the Atlantic Ocean. The route enters the state from Georgia at the Savannah River and serves Charleston and Myrtle Beach before entering North Carolina near Calabash.-Route description:US 17 enters into...
in CharlestonCharleston, South CarolinaCharleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
SC 171 in Johns IslandJohns Island, South CarolinaJohns Island, also spelled John's Island, is the largest island in the U.S. State of South Carolina. It is one of the many Sea Islands along the coast of South Carolina.-Background:...
SC 7South Carolina Highway 7South Carolina Highway 7 is a major state highway in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The route runs 5.85 mi from Johns Isl. to N. Charleston.-Route description:...
in Johns IslandJohns Island, South CarolinaJohns Island, also spelled John's Island, is the largest island in the U.S. State of South Carolina. It is one of the many Sea Islands along the coast of South Carolina.-Background:....svg.png)
Interstate 526Interstate 526Interstate 526 or the Mark Clark Expressway is a beltway, Interstate Highway of Interstate 26 in Berkeley and Charleston counties in South Carolina, USA.-Route description:...
in CharlestonCharleston, South CarolinaCharleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
SC 165South Carolina Highway 165South Carolina Highway 165 is a 22.5 mile highway that connects U.S. 17 in Ravenel to U.S. 17 Alt. just north of Summerville. From Ravenel to S.C. 61, the highway is very rural, only to become a congested urban highway to its junction with U.S. 17 Alt.....
east of SummervilleSummerville, South CarolinaSummerville is a town in the U.S. state of South Carolina situated mostly in Dorchester County with small portions in Berkeley, and Charleston counties. It is part of the Charleston-North Charleston-Summerville Metropolitan Statistical Area as designated for statistical purposes by the U.S. Office...
US 17 Alt.U.S. Route 17 Alternate (South Carolina)U.S. Route 17 Alternate is an alternate route of U.S. Route 17 in South Carolina that runs between Pocotaligo and Georgetown. It is long and has been four-laned in various segments since 1970.-Route description:...
east of SummervilleSummerville, South CarolinaSummerville is a town in the U.S. state of South Carolina situated mostly in Dorchester County with small portions in Berkeley, and Charleston counties. It is part of the Charleston-North Charleston-Summerville Metropolitan Statistical Area as designated for statistical purposes by the U.S. Office...
SC 27 in Givhans
SC 651 east of Canadys
US 15U.S. Route 15U.S. Route 15 is a -long United States highway, designated along South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New York. The route is signed north–south, from U.S. Route 17 Alternate in Walterboro, South Carolina to Interstate 86 and NY 17 in Painted Post, New York.US...
in Canadys.svg.png)
Interstate 95Interstate 95 in South CarolinaInterstate 95 is a major Interstate Highway, running along the East Coast of the United States from Florida to Maine. In South Carolina, I-95 runs approximately parallel to the Atlantic Ocean shore although about inland, from Hardeeville in the south to Dillon in the northeast.-Route...
west of Canadys
SC 217 west of SmoaksSmoaks, South CarolinaSmoaks is a town in Colleton County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 140 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Smoaks is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:...
US 21U.S. Route 21U.S. Route 21 is a north–south United States highway of , from Hunting Island State Park, South Carolina to Wytheville, Virginia.-South Carolina:...
south of BranchvilleBranchville, South CarolinaBranchville is a town in Orangeburg County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 1,083 at the 2000 census.When the train depot was in use, three presidents stopped by the depot: William H...
US 78U.S. Route 78U.S. Highway 78 is an east–west United States highway that runs for 715 miles from Memphis, Tennessee, to Charleston, South Carolina. Between Memphis and Birmingham, Alabama, it is being upgraded to become Interstate 22....
east of BranchvilleBranchville, South CarolinaBranchville is a town in Orangeburg County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 1,083 at the 2000 census.When the train depot was in use, three presidents stopped by the depot: William H...
Future Developments
Developers continue to build more homes further and further down Ashley River Rd. A great deal of controversy was created about over-development when the City of North CharlestonNorth Charleston, South Carolina
North Charleston is the 3rd largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina with incorporated areas in Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties. On June 12, 1972 the city of North Charleston incorporated and was the 9th largest city in South Carolina. According to the 2010 Census, North...
annexed the 6,600-acre tract known as Watson Hill. The tract was sold by MeadWestvaco to private developers who then requested the annexation by North Charleston. The town of Summerville tried to rush an annexation to block North Charleston which ended in a court battle. Summerville later rescinded and backed away from its annexation attempt. The slump in the economy, 2008-2010, forced these developers to sell and the property was repurchased by MeadWestvaco. A plan for lower density development was then presented to North Charleston. It is obvious that more houses equates to more traffic on the already congested two-lane road. The people living in the homes want the road widened for them. Developers want it widened to justify building more homes. However, expanding the road will require the removal of many of the oak trees. Because the oaks are the reason that the highway was granted National Scenic Byway status, removal of the oaks will cause it to lose the status and lose National Scenic Byway Federal funding for maintenance.
A recent public meeting suggested that if development is to occur, instead of widening Ashley River Road to alleviate congestion, Glenn McConnell Parkway, also known as SC Highway 461, could be extended beyond its terminus at Bees Ferry Road. This is possible since Glenn McConnell Parkway runs parallel to Highway 61.