South Carolina Scenic Highway 11 is about to get a whole lot busier. This bucolic 2 lane road runs from the Georgia border to Gaffney along the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains. But soon construction will begin to make it four lanes, at a minimum, with up to eight in some sections, according to a State highway planner.
Peter Jenkins with the State Highway system says, “With the amount of traffic on Interstate 85, which is a main corridor between Atlanta and Charlotte, and no room to expand further because of right-of-way restrictions, we had to get creative. Highway 11 runs parallel to the existing Interstate. By widening this road and doubling, and in some places, tripling it’s size, we’ll be able to ease the congestion. Ever been stuck behind a wreck? Soon there will be a high volume alternative.”
The suggested name of this renovated road is I-85 Bypass Bypass. Mr. Jenkins says, “Interstate 85 already has a Bypass in Spartanburg. This would be a second one, so keep things clear for the public, we believe it should be called the Interstate 85 Bypass Bypass. “
Currently, one of the best ways to see Blue Ridge Mountains in South Carolina is to follow the path of an ancient Cherokee trail that provides majestic views for more than 100 miles. South Carolina Highway 11, also known as the Cherokee Foothills National Scenic Byway, is a great alternative to traveling Interstate 85 from North Carolina to Georgia.
Editor’s note: The previous paragraph is completely true, but the idea of widening it and renaming it is something only an April Fool would want to do.