U.S. 123 is a short three-digit U.S. highway. The route links Toccoa, Georgia with Greenville, South Carolina, a distance of under 100 miles. The highway follows a four lane divided expressway from the western end to Georgia 184 at Toccoa. In conjunction with Interstate 985/Georgia 365, U.S. 123 provides an alternate to busy Interstate 85 between Greenville and Atlanta. U.S. 123 is a quiet two-lane highway in Georgia, but it is loaded with eager college football fans on a typical fall Saturday. Clemson University is located in Clemson, South Carolina, and U.S. 123 is the best route to Clemson from Greenville and points northeast. U.S. 123 comes to its end in downtown Greenville, close to the northwestern terminus of Interstate 385.
U.S. 123 South
Southbound beginning of U.S. 123 (Academy Way) as seen from Business Spur 385 (North Street) near the BiLo Center in Greenville. Signage between U.S. 29 (Church Street) and Business Spur 385 for U.S. 123 is sparse at best. Photo taken 10/15/01.
U.S. 123 southbound at a partial interchange configuration with U.S. 25 (White Horse Road) to the west of Greenville. U.S. 25 intersects Interstate 185 two miles to the south and merges with U.S. 276 as Duncan Road near Travelers Rest (pop. 4,099). Photo taken 10/15/01.
Split of U.S. 123 (Calhoun Memorial Highway) southbound with South Carolina 93 (Main Street) west near the city of Easley (pop. 17,754). South Carolina 93 follows the original U.S. 123 alignment (Greenville Highway) through Easley, Liberty (pop. 3,009), Norris (pop. 847), and Central (pop. 3,522), before reuniting with U.S. 123 at Clemson (pop. 11,939). Photo taken 10/15/01.
While South Carolina 93 plows through the downtown areas of Easley, Liberty, Norris, and Central, U.S. 123 bypasses those communities on a four-lane freeway to the south. The limited access highway begins at South Carolina 135 (Pendleton Street) south of Easley. The first westbound off-ramp of the freeway departs for South Carolina 93 (Liberty Drive & Greenville Highway) via Ross Avenue. Depicted in this photograph is a diagrammatical guide sign for the Ross Avenue off-ramp.
Photo taken 10/15/01.
U.S. 123 (Tiger Boulevard) southbound in the city of Clemson. Displayed in this westward facing photograph is a shield assembly at the merge of U.S. 123 south onto U.S. 76 west & South Carolina 28 north. The three highways share pavement for the next nine miles through the heart of the city. Photo taken 10/15/01.
Business counterparts of U.S. 76 & 123 and South Carolina 28 once served the downtown area of Seneca (pop. 7,652) along North First Street. Retired in 2001, the bannered highways now carry South Carolina 130 southward to South Carolina 59 (South Oak Street). From the new southern terminus of South Carolina 130 westward, North First Street now carries South Carolina 59 north.
Photo taken 08/19/00.
U.S. 76 west & U.S. 123 south and South Carolina 28 northbound reassurance shield assembly, posted after the junction with South Carolina 130. The three way overlap carries four lanes along a commercialized corridor between Seneca and Clemson. Photo taken 10/15/01.
The western end of the 25 mile U.S. 76 & U.S. 123 overlap occurs at the town of Westminster (pop. 2,743). The paired highways travel Windsor Street to the partition of North Avenue (U.S. 76) and Main Street/Toccoa Highway (U.S. 123). The guide signs display Georgia based control cities, as both routes traverse rural areas between Westminster and the state line. U.S. 76 westbound follows the northern tier of Georgia en route to its western terminus of Chattanooga, Tennessee. U.S. 123 sinks southwestward to the Tugaloo River crossing into the Peach State. Photo taken 10/15/01.
