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Interstate 126

The capital city of Columbia is served by a 3.68 mile freeway spur of Interstate 26. Numbered as Interstate 126, the east-west highway straddles the delta of the Broad and Congaree Rivers to the northwest of downtown. U.S. Highway 76 overlaps with the six-lane freeway from Interstate 26 to Elmwood Avenue. Interchanges are not numbered along Interstate 126. Thus Interstate 126 composes the only Interstate in South Carolina without them.

Interstate 126 itself is part of a never realized urban freeway loop plan for the city of Columbia. In conjunction with South Carolina 277 (Northeastern Expressway), Interstate 126 was to carry traffic into the central business district area from the Interstate 20 & 26 junction northwest of town to Interstate 77 north of Dentsville. This is the Interstate 277 corridor. However due to community opposition and existing development, a two mile gap between the existing Interstate 126 and South Carolina 277 freeways prevents the Interstate 277 designation from materializing. Thus the two freeway spurs are linked by the surface arterials of Elmwood Avenue and Bull Street.

Interstate 126 & U.S. 76 East
Interstate 126 eastbound carries the Interstate 26 eastbound mainline toward downtown Columbia. The freeway continues the three-lane capacity of the parent eastward underneath the Bush River Road off-ramp from Interstate 26 westbound at the 1.25 mile guide sign for the Greystone Boulevard partial cloverleaf interchange. Photo taken 01/18/04.
The first reassurance shield assembly of Interstate 126 & U.S. 76 on the Columbia Freeway spur. Photo taken 08/05/00.
Upcoming exits sign for the two interchanges of Interstate 126 eastbound (Greystone Boulevard and Huger Street). The reference to Downtown Columbia is for the southbound off-ramp to Huger Street (U.S. 21-176-321 south). Photo taken 01/18/04.
A loop ramp departs for Greystone Boulevard from Interstate 126 & U.S. 76 eastbound. Greystone Boulevard ends at Candi Lane and Marthas Glen Road/Rivermont Drive to the south. The entrance to Riverbanks Zoological Parkand Botanical Gardens resides off of Rivermont Drive via Wildlife Parkway. Photo taken 01/18/04.
Interstate 126 & U.S. 76 eastbound depart the Greystone Boulevard (unsigned Exit 2) interchange. The freeway maintains eight lanes across the Broad River. Photo taken 01/18/04.
The final interchange of Interstate 126 is that with Huger Street (unsigned Exit 3). Huger Street ends at the freeway from the south. Photo taken 01/18/04.
The right-hand two lanes default onto U.S. 21-176-321 south (Huger Street). The mainline carries U.S. 76 eastward onto Elmwood Avenue (U.S. 21-176-321 north). Unsigned is the designation of Business Spur Interstate 126. The designation applies to 0.5 miles of Elmwood Avenue Photo. taken 01/18/04.
Crossing the Broad River into the downtown area of the capital city. Ahead is the tri-level stack interchange of Interstate 126 & U.S. 76 with Huger Street (U.S. 21, 176, & 321 south). The freeway expands to seven lanes in anticipation of the Huger Street and Elmwood Avenue (U.S. 21, 176, & 321 north and U.S. 76 east) junction. Photo taken 01/18/04.
Interstate 126 at the eastbound ramp to Huger Street south. U.S. 21, 176, & 321 enter the interchange via Huger, turning east onto Elmwood Avenue with U.S. 76 and Business Spur 126. The five way overlap continues to Main Street where U.S. 21, 176, & 321 depart. Three blocks east of that junction, Elmwood Avenue encounters the southern terminus of South Carolina 277, the Northeastern Expressway. Photo taken 01/18/04.
Interstate 126 ends and Business Spur Interstate 126 begins. Traffic from Huger Street northbound carries U.S. 21 & 321 north and 176 westbound onto Elmwood Avenue. U.S. 76 eastbound continues on Elmwood Avenue to Bull Street (South Carolina 277). Photo taken 01/18/04.
Interstate 126 & U.S. 76 West
Entering the Elmwood Street viaduct over the CSX railroad line at Interstate 126. U.S. 21-176-321 turn southward onto Huger Street toward the left. Elmwood Avenue becomes Interstate 126 and carries U.S. 76 westward to Interstate 26. Photo taken 01/18/04.
Interstate 126 & U.S. 76 westbound split with U.S. 21-176-321 southbound at the Huger Street off-ramp (unsigned Exit 3). Interstate 126 & U.S. 76 are signed with the control city of Spartanburg for the Interstate 26 westbound connection. Similar to the concept adhered to at Interstate 77's southern terminus, an Interstate 20 trailblazer is affixed to the top of the Interstate 126 panel. Photo taken 01/18/04.
The Columbia Freeway spur is officially designated the Lester Bates Freeway. Traffic from Huger Street northbound merges onto the freeway from a lengthy on-ramp to the left. Photo taken 01/18/04.
Traffic eminating from Huger Street merges with Interstate 126 & U.S. 76 westbound at the beginning of the eight-lane Broad River bridges. Posted at the merge is the one-mile guide sign for the Greystone Boulevard and Riverbanks Zoo interchange (unsigned Exit 2). Photo taken 01/18/04.
Upcoming exits sign featuring all three westbound interchanges of the Columbia Freeway spur. In the background is a mileage sign for Greenville and Spartanburg. The sign displays 92 miles for Spartanburg and 99 miles for Greenville (via Interstate 385). Photo taken 01/18/04.
Drawing to within one half mile of the Greystone Boulevard partial cloverleaf interchange. Greystone Boulevard travels north from Candi Lane and Rivermont Drive to Broad River Road (U.S. 176). Photo taken 01/18/04.
Interstate 126 & U.S. 76 maintain eight lanes through to the Interstate 26 eastbound off-ramp. The Riverbanks Zoological Park and Botanical Gardens is located just south of the Greystone Boulevard junction. Photo taken 01/18/04.
The original button copy overheads posted at the Greystone Boulevard interchange of Interstate 126 & U.S. 76 westbound. Photo taken 08/05/00.
Attached to the Greystone Boulevard overcrossing are exit signs for the final two interchanges of Interstate 126. Departing in one mile is the partial "Y" interchange for Colonial Life Boulevard (unsigned Exit 1). Photo taken 01/18/04.
A centerline posted upcoming exits sign features the final three off-ramps of Interstate 126 westbound. The sign defaults as the one-half mile exit sign for Colonial Life Boulevard. The off-ramp ahead forms the northbound beginning of the surface boulevard. Photo taken 01/18/04.
Interstate 126 & U.S. 76 westbound at Colonial Life Boulevard northbound. The roadway acts as a connector between the freeway and the nearby Bush River Road. Bush River Road composes an east-west arterial between U.S. 176 and Saint Andrews Road near Irmo. Photo taken 01/18/04.
A look at the original non-reflective button copy overheads that once were held by the Colonial Life Boulevard exit sign bridge. The transition to westbound Interstate 26 features an Exit 107 overhead for the nearby Interstate 20 cloverleaf interchange. Photo taken 08/05/00.
Interstate 126 & U.S. 76 westbound at the Interstate 26 eastbound flyover ramp. Interstate 26 enters the interchange from the south, taking an abrupt northwesterly turn onto the Interstate 126 trajectory to Interstate 20 (Exit 107). The cloverleaf interchange of Exit 107 is situated just one half mile to the north. Photo taken 01/18/04.
Button copy versions of the overheads depicted in the above photobox. U.S. 76 remains on the Interstate system through to the Exit 101 north or Irmo. Traffic to Exit 107 (Interstate 20) departs ahead on an off-ramp that merges onto Interstate 26 westbound from the right. The mainline of Interstate 126 merges onto Interstate 26 west from the left. Photo taken 08/05/00.
Taking the flyover ramp of Interstate 126 & U.S. 76 westbound onto Interstate 26 eastbound. The ramp itself crosses over the Interstate 26 mainline above the Saluda River. Photo taken 01/18/04.


Covering Elmwood Avenue to and from the Interstate 126 tri-level stack interchange with Huger Street.

U.S. 21 & 321 north and U.S. 76 east & 176 west
(Business Spur Interstate 126 east)
Descending from the Elmwood Street viaduct over the CSX Railroad line on U.S. 76-176 east/west & U.S. 21-321 northbound. Ahead are the intersections with Lincoln Street, Park Street, and Assembly Street (South Carolina 48). Photo taken 01/18/04.
Span wire supported signs advise motorists of the impending U.S. 76 eastbound split with U.S. 21-176-321 north ahead of the Assembly Street intersection. South Carolina 48 sees its northern terminus at the intersection ahead. Photo taken 01/18/04.
Interstate 126 & U.S. 21-76-176-321 shield assembly posted at the South Carolina 48 northern terminus at Elmwood Avenue. South Carolina 48 travels from central Columbia southward to Interstate 77 and U.S. 601 at Wateree. Photo taken 01/18/04.
U.S. 21-176-321 turn northward onto Main Street from U.S. 76 (Elmwood Avenue). From there U.S. 176 westbound departs U.S. 21-321 (Main Street) for River Drive on one half mile. Photo taken 01/18/04.
U.S. 76 eastbound reassurance shield on the block between Main and Sumter Streets. It is unclear as to whether or not Business Spur Interstate 126 ends at the intersection of Main Street or that of Bull Street (South Carolina 277). Photo taken 01/18/04.
Elmwood Avenue comes to an end at the southern terminus of South Carolina 277 (Bull Street). From here U.S. 76 turns southward along Bull Street to U.S. 1 & 378 (Gervais Street). There the federal highway turns east. Photo taken 01/18/04.
U.S. 21 & 321 south and U.S. 76 west & 176 east
(Business Spur Interstate 126 west)
Junction shield assembly for U.S. 21-176-321 on U.S. 76 (Elmwood Avenue) westbound. U.S. 21 & 321 south and U.S. 176 east turn onto Elmwood Avenue two blocks ahead at Main Street. A traffic signal exists beforehand with Sumter Street. Photo taken 01/18/04.
An old set of signs adorns a span wire ahead of the Elmwood Avenue intersection with Main Street (U.S. 21-176-321 north). Included in the assembly is the only remaining sign for Business Spur Interstate 126. The spur travels 0.5 miles east of the Elmwood Street viaduct and Interstate 126. Photo taken 01/18/04.
A closer look at the lone Business Spur Interstate 126 sign and the U.S. 21-176-321 northbound sign. The area to the right of the Business Spur shield includes a badly deteriorating U.S. 76 shield. Photo taken 01/18/04.
U.S. 76 westbound merges with U.S. 21-176-321 southbound at Main Street. Ahead the four highways add Business Spur Interstate 126 for a half mile drive to the Elmwood Street viaduct and Interstate 126. Photo taken 01/18/04.
One block into the five-way overlap is the northern terminus intersection of South Carolina 48 (Assembly Street). South Carolina 48 travels southward through downtown to the State Capital Complex and University of South Carolina campus area. Photo taken 01/18/04.
Entering the Elmwood Street viaduct over the CSX railroad line at Interstate 126. U.S. 21-176-321 turn southward onto Huger Street toward the left. Elmwood Avenue becomes Interstate 126 and carries U.S. 76 westward to Interstate 26. Photo taken 01/18/04.

Covering Huger Street northbound on the approach to Interstate 126 and Elmwood Avenue.

U.S. 21 & 321 north and U.S. 176 west
Huger Street northbound at Laurel Street, two blocks south of the Interstate 126 & U.S. 76 tri-level stack interchange. The six-lane divided boulevard intersects South Carolina 12 (Taylor Street & Hampton Street) one and two blocks behind the camera. Photo taken 01/18/04.
U.S. 21 & 321 north and U.S. 176 west (Huger Street) at Richland Street and the approach to Interstate 126 west & U.S. 76. Huger Street sees two lanes allocated for the Columbia Freeway spur westbound and one for Elmwood Avenue eastbound (Business Spur Interstate 126 & U.S. 76 east). Photo taken 01/18/04.
The difference between the Huger Street on-ramp and the Elmwood Street transition to Interstate 126 is that Greenville is added as a control point to Spartanburg for U.S. 21-176-321 northbound. To the right U.S. 21-176-321 merge onto U.S. 76 eastbound for a five block overlap. Photo taken 01/18/04.

Page Updated February 15, 2004.