Fort Mill I-77 work continues amid traffic woes
Drivers and businesses face ongoing traffic issues as I-77 interchange work in Fort Mill progresses on schedule.
FORT MILL, S.C. — One year into a massive interchange overhaul along I-77 in Fort Mill, drivers and businesses are still struggling with daily traffic congestion, but officials say the work is progressing on schedule.
For Kendall Hathcock, co-owner of Voodoo Wings, navigating the area has become a challenge.
“Honestly, I live right down the road, and I could probably walk here faster in the morning if I wanted to,” Hathcock said.
The construction, which includes widening a mile-long stretch of South Carolina 601 from Sutton Road to U.S. 21, has created bottlenecks that frustrate drivers.
“The traffic is always difficult here,” resident John Yost said.
The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) is reconfiguring the interchange to improve safety and accommodate growth along the I-77 corridor.
- Reducing left-turn issues on SC-601
- Expanding SC-601 to six lanes
- Overall improvements for traffic flow
Currently, SCDOT is in Phase 3 of 6.
“The next phases will be spread out until the end of 2027,” Hannah Robinson, SCDOT’s media relations manager, said. “We’re getting close to the halfway point of this project. We have a lot left to get done.”
Despite the headaches, Hathcock says she’s impressed with the speed of construction.
“They have been moving pretty fast, that I can’t complain about,” she said. “But for us, it kind of stinks for the traffic of it all.”
With four years to go, officials urge patience, emphasizing that the final product will improve safety and efficiency for the growing region.
Contact Walker Lawson at wlawson@wcnc.com or follow him on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.