U.S. Route 29 in South Carolina

U.S. Highway 29 (US 29) is a 110.202 mi north–south United States Numbered Highway that travels from the Savannah River to Blacksburg, entirely in Upstate South Carolina.

Route description
US 29 enters South Carolina crossing the Savannah River, downstream from Hartwell Dam, and proceeds to travel along the forested eastern edge of Lake Hartwell for 3.2 mi, where it meets up with Old US 29. From there, it goes on a northeasterly direction toward Anderson. 3 mi outside Anderson, US 29 Business (US 29 Bus.) takes a left turn and more direct route into the downtown area; while mainline US 29 continues east, with most signage signed "Truck" instead of the more usual "Bypass" (state maps confirm it is the mainline route). At South Carolina Highway 81 (SC 81), US 29 takes a left turn and follows briefly before taking a right turn at Shockley Ferry Road. Crossing SC 28 Bus., the road widens to an undivided four-lane highway, continuing until reaching River Street (US 76/US 178); where US 29 makes another right turn and then soon left again. US 29 meets back with US 29 Bus. at Williamston Road. Continuing northeast for another 8 mi, US 29 makes a junction with US 29 Connector that leads to SC 20 in Williamston; the highway briefly divides at junction. With another 6.5 mi, US 29 merges with northbound Interstate 85 (I-85; exit 34, northbound exit and southbound entrance only).

After traveling in concurrency with I-85, US 29 switches onto I-185 at exit 42 (exit 14B on I-185). After 2.5 mi, I-185 ends at Henrydale Avenue; US 29 continues along Mills Avenue, followed by Church Street (staying straight), through Downtown Greenville. At North Street and Academy Street (US 123), travelers can connect to I-385; between the two streets is the Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Church Street eventually ends onto Wade Hampton Boulevard, which is a divided six-lane highway from Greenville to Greer.

Once after passing through Greer, the highway shrinks to a divided four-lane highway, continuing through Lyman and Wellford. After passing I-85 (exit 66) and I-26 (exit 21), US 29 enters Spartanburg and through one of the busiest commercial areas in the city, centered at WestGate Mall (the highway is widen to six lanes throughout the commercial area). As US 29 enters the city center area, it takes a left onto Saint John Street, then proceeds to parallel Main Street before rejoining 1.5 mi later. At Pine Street (US 176/SC 9), travelers can connect to I-585. US 29 continues in a northeasterly direction into Cowpens, where the highway reduces down to two lanes through town.

After passing through Cowpens, the road widens again to an undivided four-lane highway for 2.7 mi before entering into Gaffney. Continuing as a two-lane road through both Gaffney and Blacksburg, it crosses one last time with I-85 (exit 106), before entering North Carolina.

History
From its inception until 1959, US 29 was the main thoroughfare in Upstate South Carolina and connecting regionally with Atlanta and Charlotte. Though still important in the upstate, it now takes a traveler on a more indirect route compared to I-85.

Established in 1927 as an original U.S. Highway, it generally traversed the same today as it then when created; from Georgia to North Carolina, via Anderson, Greenville, Greer, Spartanburg, Gaffney, and Blacksburg. The entire route was in concurrency with SC 8.

In 1928, SC 8 was rerouted completely off US 29. In 1935, US 29 was rerouted onto new alignment between Anderson and Greenville. The old routing using Greenville Road onto Old Anderson Road, then east on Pendleton Road and finally Main Street was renumbered as SC 81. The new routing turns at Williamson Road, to Williamston, Pelzer, and Piedmont, before entering Greenville on Grove Road, Allen Street, Pendleton Street, and finally Main Street. The new alignment replaced SC 248 and part of SC 20.

In 1938, US 29 was rerouted from Greenville northward and from using Main Street, to Buncombe Road, to Rutherford Avenue, and to Camp Road into Greer. The new routing follows Main Street to Stone Avenue and finally to Wade Hampton Boulevard.

Between 1943 and 1946, US 29 was moved onto new road bypassing Greer and Duncan. In 1947, US 29 was given a southeastern bypass of Anderson, creating a business loop through downtown. In 1948, US 29 was rerouted onto Grove and Augusta roads, leaving Allen and Green streets, in Greenville.

By 1955, US 29 was rerouted onto a new super-two highway north of Spartanburg, Cowpens, Gaffney, and Blacksburg; the old route became US 29 Alternate (US 29 Alt.). In 1957 or 1958, US 29 was rerouted onto a new super-two highway, bypassing Williamston, Pelzer, and Piedmont; the old alignment later became connector route for US 29/SC 20. It then went onto new road connecting with US 25 and SC 291. In concurrency with SC 291, it reaches Wade Hampton Boulevard; leaving behind a business loop through downtown Greenville. In 1959, I-85 was assigned from Spartanburg to North Carolina, in concurrency with US 29, once the highway was expanded into four lanes.

In 1962, US 29 was removed from I-85 from Spartanburg to North Carolina and was moved back on its original routing, replacing US 29 Alt. In the Greenville area, US 29 was rerouted back through Greenville along I-185, which connected directly via Church Street, to Wade Hampton Boulevard. US 29 Bus. in Greenville was decommissioned as a result. The old alignment to SC 291 became part of I-85. Finally, at the South Carolina–Georgia state line, US 29 was rerouted south from SC 412 to avoid the new Lake Hartwell. Most of old US 29 is underwater, with parts of it above surface used for marina purposes.

In 1974, US 29 was rerouted onto Saint Johns Avenue from Main Street, in Spartanburg.