S.C. Highway 170
Encyclopedia
South Carolina Highway 170 (SC 170) is a 35.1 miles (56.5 km) state highway, connecting northern Beaufort County
with southern portions of Beaufort and Jasper counties. Due to increased population growth in both areas, the majority of the road is four lanes wide, with certain areas retaining the original two lane configuration.
and ending at the Georgia
state line at the Savannah River
, where it continues as Georgia State Route 25 into Port Wentworth
.
Beginning in Beaufort at an angular intersection with U.S. Highway 21, the road is known as the Robert Smalls
Parkway for approximately five miles as it travels in a southwesterly direction across Port Royal Island. After intersecting with South Carolina Highway 802, SC 170 crosses the Broad River over a 1.7 mile four-lane bridge
built in 2004, replacing a previous 2-lane drawbridge
. The route crosses Lemon Island and surrounding marshes before crossing over the smaller Chechesee River and enters the southern portion of Beaufort County. This particular stretch is quite scenic, with panoramas of marshes and surrounding islands extending for miles.
Shortly after the intersection with Snake Road and Callawassie Island's entrance road, the route crosses briefly into Jasper County before running exactly along the boundary between Beaufort and Jasper County for approximately eight miles. The route is mostly rural, though new commercial and light industrial development has begun to appear along the Jasper County side of the road.
The route crosses fully into Beaufort County and passes under U.S. Highway 278 at an intersection known locally as McGarvey's Corner and shortly after that intersection is reduced from four to two lanes. It skirts the eastern edge of the Sun City Hilton Head development before intersecting with Bluffton Parkway, which provides direct access to Bluffton
. It continues for another two miles (3 km) before reaching South Carolina Highway 46
at a traffic circle.
SC 170 and SC 46 are co-signed for approximately three miles as they cross into Jasper County before splitting at an intersection five miles (8 km) southeast of downtown Hardeeville. Shortly past that intersection, South Carolina Highway 315
(formerly SC 170 Alternate) splits from the road by continuing straight while SC 170 makes a right onto Freedom Parkway. SC 170 continues along the extent of the road before intersecting with U.S. Highway 17
in the unincorporated Limehouse community.
Highways 17 and 170 are co-signed for approximately two miles on a four lane, divided highway configuration. The highways split after passing by a former truck weigh station, with U.S. 17 continuing to Savannah and SC 170 heading into the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge
. The route emerges out of a densely wooded area and crosses nearly two miles of marshes before reaching the Savannah River
and the Georgia state line. The road continues onward to Port Wentworth as Georgia State Route 25.
Beaufort County, South Carolina
-National protected areas:*Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge *Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 155,215 people, 45,532 households, and 33,056 families residing in the county. The population density was 206 people per...
with southern portions of Beaufort and Jasper counties. Due to increased population growth in both areas, the majority of the road is four lanes wide, with certain areas retaining the original two lane configuration.
Route description
The route travels generally in a northeast to southwest direction, beginning in BeaufortBeaufort, South Carolina
Beaufort is a city in and the county seat of Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. Chartered in 1711, it is the second-oldest city in South Carolina, behind Charleston. The city's population was 12,361 in the 2010 census. It is located in the Hilton Head Island-Beaufort Micropolitan...
and ending at the Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
state line at the Savannah River
Savannah River
The Savannah River is a major river in the southeastern United States, forming most of the border between the states of South Carolina and Georgia. Two tributaries of the Savannah, the Tugaloo River and the Chattooga River, form the northernmost part of the border...
, where it continues as Georgia State Route 25 into Port Wentworth
Port Wentworth, Georgia
Port Wentworth is a city in Chatham County, Georgia, USA. The population was 5,359 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Savannah Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Port Wentworth is located at...
.
Beginning in Beaufort at an angular intersection with U.S. Highway 21, the road is known as the Robert Smalls
Robert Smalls
Robert Smalls was an enslaved African American who, during and after the American Civil War, became a ship's pilot, sea captain, and politician. He freed himself and his family from slavery on May 13, 1862, by commandeering a Confederate transport ship, the Planter, to freedom in Charleston harbor...
Parkway for approximately five miles as it travels in a southwesterly direction across Port Royal Island. After intersecting with South Carolina Highway 802, SC 170 crosses the Broad River over a 1.7 mile four-lane bridge
Broad River Bridge
The Broad River Bridge is a 1.7-mile long highway bridge that spans the Broad River in Beaufort County, South Carolina. Originally built as a two-lane drawbridge, growth pressures and safety concerns demanded that a larger and taller fixed-span bridge be built...
built in 2004, replacing a previous 2-lane drawbridge
Drawbridge
A drawbridge is a type of movable bridge typically associated with the entrance of a castle surrounded by a moat. The term is often used to describe all different types of movable bridges, like bascule bridges and lift bridges.-Castle drawbridges:...
. The route crosses Lemon Island and surrounding marshes before crossing over the smaller Chechesee River and enters the southern portion of Beaufort County. This particular stretch is quite scenic, with panoramas of marshes and surrounding islands extending for miles.
Shortly after the intersection with Snake Road and Callawassie Island's entrance road, the route crosses briefly into Jasper County before running exactly along the boundary between Beaufort and Jasper County for approximately eight miles. The route is mostly rural, though new commercial and light industrial development has begun to appear along the Jasper County side of the road.
The route crosses fully into Beaufort County and passes under U.S. Highway 278 at an intersection known locally as McGarvey's Corner and shortly after that intersection is reduced from four to two lanes. It skirts the eastern edge of the Sun City Hilton Head development before intersecting with Bluffton Parkway, which provides direct access to Bluffton
Bluffton, South Carolina
The weather in the Bluffton, SC area is typical of the Southeast with generally mild temperatures from Fall through Spring and a warm and humid Summer. There can be occasionally snow flurries in the winter but that is quite unusual....
. It continues for another two miles (3 km) before reaching South Carolina Highway 46
South Carolina Highway 46
South Carolina Highway 46 is a 17.2 mile state highway in Beaufort and Jasper counties in the Lowcountry region of South Carolina, connecting the rapidly growing communities of Bluffton and Hardeeville and serving as a parallel route to U.S. Highway 278.-Route description:From the eastern...
at a traffic circle.
SC 170 and SC 46 are co-signed for approximately three miles as they cross into Jasper County before splitting at an intersection five miles (8 km) southeast of downtown Hardeeville. Shortly past that intersection, South Carolina Highway 315
South Carolina Highway 315
South Carolina Highway 315 is a state highway, serving as a more direct route between Savannah, Georgia and several Lowcountry communities in South Carolina through southern Jasper County. Once the original alignment of S.C. Highway 170 and S.C. Highway 170 Alternate, this route was renumbered...
(formerly SC 170 Alternate) splits from the road by continuing straight while SC 170 makes a right onto Freedom Parkway. SC 170 continues along the extent of the road before intersecting with U.S. Highway 17
U.S. Route 17 in South Carolina
In the U.S. state of South Carolina, U.S. Route 17 is a north–south highway located near the Atlantic Ocean. The route enters the state from Georgia at the Savannah River and serves Charleston and Myrtle Beach before entering North Carolina near Calabash.-Route description:US 17 enters into...
in the unincorporated Limehouse community.
Highways 17 and 170 are co-signed for approximately two miles on a four lane, divided highway configuration. The highways split after passing by a former truck weigh station, with U.S. 17 continuing to Savannah and SC 170 heading into the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge
Savannah National Wildlife Refuge
The Savannah National Wildlife Refuge is a 29,175 acre National Wildlife Refuge located in Chatham and Effingham counties in Georgia and Jasper County in South Carolina. Of the total area, is in Georgia and is in South Carolina...
. The route emerges out of a densely wooded area and crosses nearly two miles of marshes before reaching the Savannah River
Savannah River
The Savannah River is a major river in the southeastern United States, forming most of the border between the states of South Carolina and Georgia. Two tributaries of the Savannah, the Tugaloo River and the Chattooga River, form the northernmost part of the border...
and the Georgia state line. The road continues onward to Port Wentworth as Georgia State Route 25.