Last Saturday, I did a "turn-and-burn" from GRG HQ to Greenville, South Carolina, to film their Southern Connector toll road (I-185 Toll).

Ten years ago this month, the Southern Connector, a tolled extension of I-185, was completed and opened to traffic. Greenville-area and South Carolina officials promoted this highway as a way to open up Greenville's south side and provide travelers a quicker route from I-85 in southwest Greenville to Columbia and I-385 to Atlanta. It was further anticipated that Atlanta-like development would result from this highway being there. In other words, like "Field of Dreams", they built it, and hoped someone would come.

Like Atlanta's GA 400 tolled extension, the project was financed by bonds. Unlike 400, the traffic volume never was high enough to generate the necessary toll revenue to pay off the bonds and maintain the highway. As a result, Connector 2000 Association, Inc, the public-private partnership that built and currently operates and maintains the Connector, filed for Chapter 9 Bankruptcy.

As for the road itself...

Firstly, I was nearly amazed how nearly empty this stretch of highway was. In fact, it was so empty in spots, you could run back-and-forth across both carriageways and have a much better chance of not being hit by a vehicle.

Secondly, driving the entire 16-mile (26 km) stretch will cost you $2.50. On Saturday, there were only 2 cash lanes open (including the exact-change-only lane where you must throw in a fistful of coins). Your other option would be to obtain a Palmetto Pass, for which there is only one (1) express lane for their drivers. Given that I was one of only a handful of drivers on it, I can see why the additional manned cash lane wasn't open.

Thirdly, I only drove the Connector for the purpose of "clinching" another Interstate Highway. Otherwise, I would've just continued up I-85 to I-385 south and saved my hard-earned money. If I were a local and needed to drive this road, I'd go ahead and purchase the Palmetto Pass. (BTW, the Connector folks are offering $35 in toll credits to first-time Pass purchasers... but for a limited time only.)

Frankly, I was not extraordinarily impressed with the Connector and find it laughable that any group would invest a dime of private in a "road to nowhere". Do I feel sorry for the Association? HELL, NO!!!

I realize that money for roads is not easy to come by, but as a taxpayer, I would rather see what limited funds we may have dedicated primarily to maintaining and (if need be) enhancing existing road infrastructure. At least when the Georgia DOT built the GA 400 extension as a toll road, they knew that there was an existing need.

The way I see it, the moral of this story is "Don't bulid a road unless you are absolutely, positively certain people will drive on it... especially if it's a toll road and you got bonds to pay off."

And now, for your viewing pleasure, here's the Southern Connector, courtesy of ROADGEEK-CAM Productions...




That's it for now. Thanks for reading and watching, please "like" us on Facebook for "between-blog" GRG goodness, and have a great weekend!

 

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