driving over a bridge

A Vital Link

in the Lowcountry

The I-526 Lowcountry Corridor (LCC) bridges the Charleston region. It connects port terminals to distribution centers, links neighborhoods to jobs, and provides access to regional recreation destinations for residents and visitors alike.

What is the I-526 Lowcountry Corridor?

The 23-mile connection between West Ashley and Mount Pleasant, known as the I-526 Lowcountry Corridor (LCC), has been identified by SCDOT as one of the state’s most congested interstate highways — and it’s among the Department’s top priorities statewide. As such, SCDOT and FHWA are currently evaluating current and future transportation demands in the existing I-526 LCC, from south of Paul Cantrell Boulevard in West Ashley to south of U.S. 17 in Mount Pleasant. Current challenges along the corridor have been identified as the growing demand for capacity resulting in increasing congestion. That could mean more lanes, new technology, or other strategies aimed at accomplishing these goals.

This corridor has been broken down into two distinct projects – I-526 Lowcountry Corridor WEST and I-526 Lowcountry Corridor EAST. An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is being prepared for the I-526 LCC WEST project, which runs from Paul Cantrell Boulevard in West Ashley to Virginia Avenue in North Charleston. The purpose of the project is to increase capacity and improve operations at the I-26/I-526 interchange and along the I-526 mainline in this study area.

I-526 LCC EAST, currently in a Planning & Environment Linkages (PEL) study, extends from Virginia Avenue in North Charleston to U.S. Highway 17 in Mount Pleasant.

Residents of the greater Charleston region are encouraged to participate in the process prescribed by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to provide input.

The Latest…

  • Apply Today! Environmental Justice Community Mitigation Plan – College Aid Initiative (applications due by October 16, 2023)
  • The I-526 @ Long Point Road Interchange Improvements project has launched as a result of the EAST PEL Study
  • Read the I-526 LCC EAST PEL Study final report
  • The virtual meeting for the I-526 Lowcountry Corridor EAST has closed. Materials are still available here.
  • The Proposed Final EJ Community Mitigation Plan for I-526 LCC WEST is now available on our Community Commitments page.
  • View the I-526 LCC WEST Recommended Preferred Alternative
  • View the I-526 LCC WEST FEIS-ROD: here

The Study Limits

After conducting initial traffic and environmental studies, SCDOT found that improvements may be necessary beyond the original project study limits. Because of that, the corridor has been divided into two study areas, I-526 LCC WEST and I-526 LCC EAST.

Below is more information that is specific to each study area.

west arrow

From Paul Cantrell Blvd/Glenn McConnell Boulevard in West Ashley to Virginia Avenue in North Charleston.

east arrow

From Virginia Avenue in North Charleston to U.S. Highway 17 in Mount Pleasant.