Booming Bluffton prompts major SC 170 study

Rapid growth in Bluffton and increasing traffic in southern Beaufort County are prompting transportation planners to study major upgrades to a major commuter corridor.

A regional transportation study is examining whether large sections of S.C. 170 — a key commuter route connecting Bluffton, Hardeeville and Beaufort — should eventually be widened to as many as eight lanes to accommodate future traffic.

The Lowcountry Council of Governments, working with the South Carolina Department of Transportation and local governments, is evaluating about 23.7 miles of the highway from S.C. 46, known as May River Road in Bluffton, to U.S. 21 Business, or Boundary Street, in Beaufort.

Study materials show parts of S.C. 170 currently carry roughly 20,000 to more than 40,000 vehicles per day. Traffic could rise sharply in coming decades, with projections ranging from about 31,600 vehicles per day near Beaufort to nearly 91,000 vehicles daily in the Okatie area by 2050.

The corridor has become increasingly important as Bluffton and surrounding areas continue to grow and development expands in nearby Jasper County.

According to study materials, the project is intended to address congestion, safety and mobility along the corridor, which crosses the Broad River between Beaufort and Jasper counties.

the study divide the corridor into four segments with different potential lane expansions.

The southern section between S.C. 46 and U.S. 278 near Bluffton could expand to six lanes. The next segment, from U.S. 278 to S.C. 462 near Hardeeville, could grow to six or eight lanes.

Another portion between S.C. 462 and Snake Road or Callawassie Drive is being studied for up to eight lanes. The northernmost section between Snake Road and U.S. 21 Business near Beaufort could remain four lanes but include intersection improvements and access management.

Concept plans also show possible grade-separated intersections intended to improve traffic flow.

The study was identified in the region’s 2045 Long Range Transportation Plan and is intended to help guide future transportation investments as growth continues in southern Beaufort County and Jasper County.

Multiple agencies and local governments are participating in the effort, including Beaufort County, Jasper County, the cities of Beaufort and Hardeeville, the towns of Bluffton, Port Royal and Hilton Head Island, Palmetto Breeze transit and the East Coast Greenway.

The study began in March 2025 with data collection and analysis of current and projected traffic conditions. Concept recommendations were developed through late 2025.

Public feedback is now being collected as part of the study’s outreach phase. Residents can review materials and submit comments through April 17 at: lowcountrycog.org/planning_and_transportation/corridor_studies/sc_170/index.php

A draft report is expected in spring 2026, followed by a final report anticipated in summer 2026. The study itself does not fund construction but is intended to guide future transportation planning and potential projects along the corridor.