U.S. Route 278 in South Carolina

U.S. Route 278 (US 278) is a 146.130-mile (235.173 km) east–west United States highway that traverses through the South Carolina Lowcountry, from North Augusta to Hilton Head Island.

This article is about the section of U.S. Route 278 in South Carolina. For the entire route, see U.S. Route 278.

U.S. Highway 278 marker

U.S. Highway 278

Route of US 278 in South Carolina highlighted in red
Route information
Auxiliary route of US 78
Maintained by SCDOT
Length146.130 mi[1][2][3][4][5][6] (235.173 km)
Existed1965–present
Tourist
routes		 Hilton Head Scenic Byway
Major junctions
West end US 1 / US 25 / US 78 / US 278 / SR 10 / SR 121 at the Georgia state line near North Augusta
Major intersections
East end
 US 278 Bus. in Hilton Head
Location
CountryUnited States
StateSouth Carolina
CountiesAiken, Barnwell, Allendale, Hampton, Jasper, Beaufort
Highway system
← SC 277→ SC 281

Route description

After crossing the Savannah River from Georgia, US 278 bypasses downtown North Augusta, South Carolina to the south en route to Beech Island and Johnson Crossroads. It then forms a de facto northern boundary of the Savannah River Site, crossing into the property on a few occasions. The route then continues eastward and then southward through the communities of Barnwell, Kline, Allendale, Fairfax, Hampton, Varnville, Ridgeland, and Hardeeville where it meets I-95. US 278 shares the route between Ridgeland and Hardeeville with US 17.[7]

From Allendale to Almeda, US 278 runs along the CSX Augusta Subdivision.

Upon reaching Hardeeville, the route heads eastward toward the Atlantic with large residential and commercial developments lining the spine of the road from Hardeeville through Okatie and Bluffton. The route crosses over Calibogue Sound onto Hilton Head Island. After a five-mile stretch in which the route is tolled, US 278 ends at US 278 Business on the southern portion of Hilton Head Island, just outside Sea Pines Plantation.[7]

Cross Island Parkway
Not to be confused with Cross Island Parkway in New York.

On Hilton Head Island, US 278 was previously routed along what is now US 278 Business until a new toll road, named the Cross Island Parkway, opened on January 16, 1998.[8] The 6.8-mile (10.9 km) section of roadway[8] cost $83 million to build and was funded with a combination of state funds, federal funds, state highway bonds and tolls.[9]

The controlled access toll road has only one interchange along its route at Marshland Drive. It was the first toll road built in South Carolina in modern history.[8] A majority of the road users pay their tolls using Palmetto Pass, South Carolina's system for electronic toll collection. Tolls were removed on June 30, 2021, not long after the last of the bonds sold to build the road were retired.[9][10]

The completion of the Cross Island Parkway (a direct expressway connection from the north side to the south side of the island) has caused a great amount of commercial and residential development along the road. Before the toll road opened, it could take one hour to travel the 12-mile (19 km) route of what was then signed as US 278 (William Hilton Parkway) during peak tourism season.[8] The Cross Island Parkway greatly relieved congestion on that road when it opened.[9]

History

US 278 was established, in South Carolina, in 1965, traveling from Augusta, Georgia to Hilton Head Island. Crossing the Savannah River, in concurrency with US 1/US 25/US 78/SC 121, it then overlapped with SC 125 on Atomic Road, to Beech Island. Replacing SC 28 from Beech Island to Almeda, where it then replaced SC 128, going through Ridgeland, to Old House. Replacing part of SC 462, it went south into Bluffton and then east into Hilton Head Island, replacing part of SC 46.[11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22]

Throughout the 1980s, US 278 was widen to four-lane, in phases, east of SC 170, in Bluffton. In 1996-1997, US 278 was rerouted south of Ridgeland to Hardeeville, then east on new primary routing to SC 170, in Bluffton. Its former routing was replaced by SC 336 to Old House and SC 462 to SC 170.[23][24] In 1998, US 278 was rerouted onto new routing along the west side of Hilton Head Island; known as the Cross Island Parkway, the toll road provides quicker access to the far south end of the island. The old alignment, in Hilton Head Island, became US 278 Business.[25][26]

Tolls
Cross Island Parkway Toll Plaza

Toll rates, for 2-axle vehicles, along Cross Island Parkway were $1.25 at the toll plaza and $1.00 at the Marshland Road/Spanish Wells Road interchange. Each additional axle was $1.00 (plaza and ramps). The toll plaza had both electronic toll collection (ETC) and cash lanes, which were staffed 24 hours a day; Marshland Road/Spanish Wells Road interchange accept only ETC or exact change only. Those that did not have exact change or do not pay the toll had five days to contact the Cross Island Parkway Customer Service Center to make a payment; after that time, a violation notice was mailed. Travelers that made a mistake of taking the toll road may request a "Turn Around Pass", which gives them ten minutes to continue along the highway, turn around at the roundabout and return the pass at the toll plaza on the return trip.[27]

On July 1, 2021, the tolls were removed because the final bond payment was paid on the $81 million road that was opened in 1998.

Major intersections
CountyLocationmi[1][2][3]
[4][5][6]		kmDestinationsNotes
Savannah River0.0000.000





 US 1 south / US 25 south / SR 121 south / US 78 west / US 278 west / SR 10 west (Gordon Highway) – Augusta		Continuation into Georgia
0.000–
0.005		0.000–
0.0080		South Carolina–Georgia state line
AikenNorth Augusta0.188–
0.340		0.303–
0.547		5th Street Bridge / River North DriveInterchange
0.640–
0.710		1.030–
1.143
 US 25 / SC 121 north – North Augusta, Edgefield		East end of freeway section; eastern end of US 25 and SC 121 concurrencies
0.8701.400

 Buena Vista Avenue (SC 125 Conn. west) to I-20 / SC 230		Right-in/right-out interchange; westbound exit and entrance; eastern terminus of SC 125 Conn.[28]
1.560–
1.950		2.511–
3.138		 I-520 (Palmetto Parkway) – Augusta, Columbia, AtlantaI-520 exit 17
Clearwater2.3803.830


 US 1 north / US 78 east (Jefferson Davis Highway east) / SC 421 begins – Aiken, North Augusta, Clearwater		Interchange; eastern end of US 1/US 78 concurrencies; western end of SC 421 concurrency; southern terminus of SC 421
2.380–
2.465		3.830–
3.967
 SC 125 north (Atomic Road) – North Augusta		Eastern end of SC 421 concurrency (eastbound only); western end of SC 125 concurrency; interchange
Beech Island7.270–
7.500		11.700–
12.070

 SC 28 west (Sand Bar Ferry Road) / SC 125 south (Atomic Road) – Savannah River Site, Augusta		Eastern end of SC 125 concurrency; eastern terminus of SC 28; interchange
​13.48021.694 SC 302 (Silver Bluff Road) – Jackson, Aiken
New Ellenton19.69031.688
 SC 19 north – New Ellenton, Aiken, Savannah River Site		Southern terminus of SC 19
​29.06046.768
 SC 781 east – Williston, Charleston		Western terminus of SC 781
Barnwell​32.73052.674 SC 39 – Williston
​41.17066.257
 SC 37 north – Elko, Williston		Southern terminus of SC 37
Barnwell43.50070.006
 SC 64 west (Dunbarton Boulevard) – Savannah River Site		Western end of SC 64 concurrency
43.76070.425
 SC 70 east (Allen Street) / Dunbarton Boulevard – Denmark		Western terminus of SC 70
44.10070.972
 SC 64 east (Hagood Avenue) – Walterboro		Eastern end of SC 64 concurrency
45.43073.112
 SC 3 north (Marlboro Avenue) – Columbia		Western end of SC 3 concurrency
​46.67075.108
 SC 3 south – Sylvania		Eastern end of SC 3 concurrency
​46.90075.478
 SC 300 south – Ulmer		Northern terminus of SC 300
AllendaleAllendale60.61097.542
 US 301 north (Burton's Ferry Highway) – Walterboro		Western end of US 301 concurrency; to USC Salkehatchie
60.92098.041

 US 301 south (Main Street) / SC 125 north (Railroad Avenue) – Savannah River Site, Augusta, Sylvania		Eastern end of US 301 concurrency
Fairfax66.370106.812 US 321 (Hampton Avenue) – Estill, Savannah, Orangeburg, ColumbiaTo USC Salkehatchie
HamptonHampton75.330121.232
 SC 363 west (Shaw Drive) – Lake Warren State Park		Western end of SC 363 concurrency
75.490121.489
 US 601 north (Hoover Street) – Orangeburg		Western end of US 601 concurrency
76.050122.391
 US 601 south (First Street) – Estill, Savannah		Eastern end of US 601 concurrency
76.240122.696
 SC 363 east (Third Street) – Walterboro, Charleston		Eastern end of SC 363 concurrency
Varnville78.130125.738
 SC 63 east (Main Street) – Walterboro		Western terminus of SC 63
Almeda80.240129.134
 SC 68 east (Yemassee Highway) – Yemassee		Western terminus of SC 68
JasperGrays91.870147.850
 SC 3 north (Heritage Road) – Early Branch		Southern terminus of SC 3
Gillisonville96.750155.704
 SC 462 west (Gillison Branch Road) – Pineland		Western end of SC 462 concurrency
​97.570157.024
 SC 462 east (Morgandollar Road) – Coosawhatchie		Eastern end of SC 462 concurrency
​102.310164.652
 SC 652 west (Calf Pen Bay Road) – Pineland		Eastern terminus of SC 652
Ridgeland106.288171.054Russell Street south (US 278 Conn. east) / Town Square eastWestern terminus of US 278 Conn. and Town Square; northern terminus of Russell Street
106.370171.1863rd Avenue west (US 278 Conn. west)Eastern terminus of US 278 Conn., which takes on the 3rd Avenue name
106.640171.620
 US 17 north (Jacob Smart Boulevard) – Charleston		Western end of US 17 concurrency
106.780171.846 SC 336 (Main Street) – Tillman, Beaufort, Hilton Head Island
109.050175.499
 SR 13 south to I-95 – Savannah, Florence		Northern terminus of SC 13
Hardeeville119.440192.220
 US 17 south (Whyte Hardee Boulevard) – Hardeeville		Eastern end of US 17 concurrency
119.730192.687 I-95 – Savannah, FlorenceI-95 exit 8
Beaufort​127.580–
127.601		205.320–
205.354		 SC 170 (Okatie Highway) – Savannah, BeaufortTo Parris Island; interchange
Bluffton133.510214.864
 SC 46 west (Bluffton Road) – Bluffton		Eastern terminus of SC 46
137.293220.952Bluffton ParkwayInterchange; westbound exit and eastbound entrance
Atlantic Intracoastal WaterwayJ. Wilton Graves Bridge
Hilton Head Island140.720–
141.102		226.467–
227.082

 US 278 Bus. east (William Hilton Parkway east)		West end of Cross Island Parkway; western terminus of US 278 Bus.; provides access to Hilton Head Airport
143.290–
143.497		230.603–
230.936		Marshland Road / Spanish Wells RoadEast end of Cross Island Parkway
143.854231.511Toll plaza (closed)
144.331232.278Charles E. Fraser Bridge over Broad Creek
146.130235.173

 US 278 Bus. west (William Hilton Parkway) / Greenwood Drive / Pope Avenue – Sea Pines, Harbour Town, Beaches		Roundabout; eastern terminus of US 278 and US 278 Bus.
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

References
  1. "Highway Logmile Report". South Carolina Department of Transportation. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  2. "Highway Logmile Report". South Carolina Department of Transportation. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  3. "Highway Logmile Report". South Carolina Department of Transportation. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  4. "Highway Logmile Report". South Carolina Department of Transportation. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  5. "Highway Logmile Report". South Carolina Department of Transportation. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  6. "Highway Logmile Report". South Carolina Department of Transportation. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  7. Google (April 12, 2014). "Overview map of US 278 in South Carolina" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved April 12, 2014.
  8. Associated Press (January 16, 1998). "Hilton Head toll road to open". The Augusta Chronicle. Morris Communications. Archived from the original on September 27, 2017. Retrieved February 16, 2013.
  9. "27-in-7 Peak Performance" (PDF). South Carolina Department of Transportation. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 26, 2006.
  10. "News Release - SCDOT to Discontinue Toll Collections on Hilton Head's Cross Island Parkway June 30, 2021". hiltonheadislandsc.gov.
  11. General Highway Map, Aiken County, South Carolina (PDF) (Map). Cartography by SCDOT. South Carolina Department of Transportation. 1956. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  12. General Highway Map, Aiken County, South Carolina (PDF) (Map). Cartography by SCDOT. South Carolina Department of Transportation. 1967. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  13. General Highway Map, Barnwell County, South Carolina (PDF) (Map). Cartography by SCDOT. South Carolina Department of Transportation. 1962. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  14. General Highway Map, Barnwell County, South Carolina (PDF) (Map). Cartography by SCDOT. South Carolina Department of Transportation. 1967. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  15. General Highway Map, Allendale County, South Carolina (PDF) (Map). Cartography by SCDOT. South Carolina Department of Transportation. 1962. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  16. General Highway Map, Allendale County, South Carolina (PDF) (Map). Cartography by SCDOT. South Carolina Department of Transportation. 1967. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  17. General Highway Map, Hampton County, South Carolina (PDF) (Map). Cartography by SCDOT. South Carolina Department of Transportation. 1963. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  18. General Highway Map, Hampton County, South Carolina (PDF) (Map). Cartography by SCDOT. South Carolina Department of Transportation. 1967. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  19. General Highway Map, Jasper County, South Carolina (PDF) (Map). Cartography by SCDOT. South Carolina Department of Transportation. 1959. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  20. General Highway Map, Jasper County, South Carolina (PDF) (Map). Cartography by SCDOT. South Carolina Department of Transportation. 1966. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  21. General Highway Map, Beaufort County, South Carolina (PDF) (Map). Cartography by SCDOT. South Carolina Department of Transportation. 1963. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  22. General Highway Map, Beaufort County, South Carolina (PDF) (Map). Cartography by SCDOT. South Carolina Department of Transportation. 1966. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  23. General Highway System, Jasper County (PDF) (Map). South Carolina Department of Transportation. June 2005. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  24. General Highway System, Beaufort County (PDF) (Map). South Carolina Department of Transportation. January 2005. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  25. "Report of the Special Committee on U.S. Route Numbering to the Standing Committee on Highways" (PDF). AASHTO. November 6, 1998. p. 11. Retrieved April 15, 2014.
  26. Hilton Head Island Urban Area, Beaufort County (PDF) (Map). South Carolina Department of Transportation. December 2011. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  27. "Cross Island Parkway FAQ's". South Carolina Department of Transportation. Retrieved April 12, 2014.
  28. Aiken & North Augusta Urban Area (PDF) (Map). South Carolina Department of Transportation. August 2019. p. Sheet 6. Retrieved September 12, 2020.
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