A shortcut through one of Rock Hill’s busiest intersections is closing. Here’s for how long
A road near one of Rock Hill’s busiest intersections will close for more than a month, as crews work to widen it.
The South Carolina Department of Transportation announced that Riverview Road will close at 7 a.m. on Sept. 16. Riverview won’t reopen until Oct. 28. The closure is part of a York County road improvement.
Riverview connects Cherry and Celanese roads, right where they meet in one of the region’s most backed-up interchanges on Interstate 77. A much larger project is being planned for the interstate there. It could cost $200 million, state and local road officials said in July.
Several smaller projects have happened at Riverview Road and Riverchase Boulevard to change traffic signals in hopes of freeing up congestion. York County’s Pennies for Progress is widening Riverview, with the state transportation department’s help, from Celanese to Eden Terrace.
Pennies for Progress is a voter-mandated 1-cent sales tax to pay for roads. Each referendum asks to continue Pennies for seven years. York County voters have passed four Pennies campaigns since 1997, and there’s another one on the ballot this fall.
A 2011 referendum asked for $7.9 million to widen Riverview. The projected cost now is $25.2 million. It’s one of many roads across the county and region that have seen skyrocketing construction costs, particularly since the COVID pandemic.
About the Rock Hill detour
The detour during the Riverview road closure is about half a mile.
It uses both Cherry and Celanese, traveling under the interstate twice. Though the road will be closed to traffic, business access in the area won’t be impacted, according to the state transportation department.
The section of Riverview between Cherry and Celanese has three hotels, two restaurants, two gas stations and other businesses. It also connects to Riverchase Boulevard and Ame Lane, which have more businesses.
