Southern Connector Toll Road

Southern Connector Timeline History

	Making The Connection Greenville county planners decide a connector around the southern perimeter of Greenville County is needed.
	Extra Support The Greenville Area Transportation Study supports the importance of a connector.
	Planning Ahead The connector is added to Greenville County’s 20-year plan.
	A Highway In Need A traditional South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) highway project still remained unfunded due to limited resources.
	Help From Congress Congress helps the connector out with the appropriation of over $7 million for preliminary engineering, environmental, and right of way studies.
	Taking A Toll The transportation 2000 committee recommends that the Southern Connector be built as a toll project.
	Finding The Link June 1995 - The Greenville Area Transportation Group Study committee settles on the preferred route linking I-385 to I-85 in southern Greenville County.
	Calling All Proposals July 1995 - Groups submit bids to the SCDOT for the planning, designing, financing and construction of the Southern Connector.
	ICTG Proposal Accepted Interwest Carolina Transportation Group, LLC, teams consist of respected companies such as Interwest Management, Kutok Rock, Wilbur Smith Associates, Thrift Brothers, Florence & Hutchinson, Inc., Mesirow Financial, and Lehman Brothers.
	Breaking Legal Ground State Supreme Court rules a referendum is not necessary to build. The decision stated that giving counties the power to approve or disapprove of state projects is unconstitutional. It also said Southern Connector did not violate any state laws because the state is not required to contribute tax dollars.
	Breaking Physical Ground Construction begins on the Southern Connector in February of 1998.
	Take It For A Test Drive February 27, 2001 - March 13, 2001 - The Southern Connector opens with a free trial period for everyone.
	Taking A Toll - Part II March 14, 2001 – The Southern Connector begins collecting tolls.
	The 1,000,000 Mark July 9. 2001 – The Southern Connector toll road accrues 1 million transactions.
	The 10,000,000 Mark October 2, 2003 – The Southern Connector toll road accrues 10 million transactions.
	The 25,000,000 Milestone September 15, 2006 – The Southern Connector toll road accrues 25 million transactions.
	The Future and Beyond The Southern Connector has accrued over 35 million transactions. Development along its route is expanding rapidly. New business, industry, and residential areas will be serviced by the Connector in the coming years!