85/385 Gateway Project lanes are in final place

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The S.C. Department of Transportation announced Monday that the 85/385 Gateway Project was placed in its final traffic configuration before the morning commute.

The new and third lane on southbound I-385 at the 85/385 Gateway Project in Greenville and a second lane on southbound I-385 to the I-85 northbound ramp were all opened to traffic last weekend. The completion of this work over the weekend was key to the project team achieving its target of delivering the final configuration to the motoring public by Dec. 16, according to a news release.     

Motorists now have six lanes on I-385 from Simpsonville to downtown Greenville. Also, I-85 has been widened from the interchange to Pelham Road. In addition to increased safety and navigation for drivers, Secretary of Transportation Christy Hall said economic development is a key element in the design.  

“This signature infrastructure project is designed to handle 350,000 vehicles per day in the future,” she said in the news release. “The 85/385 Gateway Project fits handily into Gov. McMaster’s priorities for sustained economic growth in our state.” She said the interchange is the first of “three high priority interchanges identified by S.C. DOT for strategic investment.”