History
Construction of I-26 began in 1957 in the Columbia area with the 9-mile (14 km) section from the Broad River to near Irmo. Construction proceeded in stages heading both west up towards Greenville and east towards Charleston. The highway was largely completed from Columbia to North Charleston by 1964; the section from Aviation Avenue to the highway's terminus at US 17 in downtown Charleston progressed slower due to land takings for the right of way and numerous bridges and viaducts that had to be built. the entire 221 miles of I-26 were completed by February 1969.
The 11-mile (18 km) section of I-26 from Interstate 126 in Columbia to US 176 at Exit 97 was the first section of the highway to open up to traffic (on September 7, 1960). The 6-mile (9.7 km) section from SC 210 to US-15 opened in September 1962.
Read more about this topic: Interstate 26 In South Carolina
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