Anderson Among Counties to Get Some New Gas Tax Funds

South Carolina Department of Transportation commissioners have voted to give the first $26 million raised by the state's increased gas tax to repaving projects in 27 counties, including Anderson County

In the Upstate, Abbeville, Anderson, Cherokee, Greenville, Greenwood, Laurens, McCormick, Oconee, Pickens and Spartanburg Counties. Just over 80 miles on 62 highways in these counties will be resurfaced.

In Anderson, the following projects are slated for funds:

Anderson County – 12.02 miles on 14 roads: 

CHERRY ST                      WILMONT ST BARNES STATION RD     BASKIN RD

LAUREL AV                       ELLISON RD

MARLON AV                      GILLESPIE RD

PALMER ST                       MAJOR RD

SMITH ST                         RUBE ASHLEY RD

SQUARE ST                      WHIT CAMPBELL RD

Commissioners met for the first time Thursday since the Legislature overrode Gov. Henry McMaster's veto and decided to raise the gas tax by two cents each year for the next six years.

There are plenty of other projects the DOT plans to take up with its additional revenue. The agency wants to spend $50 million improving rural road safety. South Carolina has recently ranked worst in the nation for the number of deaths on rural roads.

The DOT has longer term plans to add lanes to Interstate 85 north of Spartanburg, Interstate 26 near Columbia and Charleston and Interstate 20 west of Columbia.