Construction has officially commenced on the Interstate 77 (I-77) Interchange highway project in Blythewood, South Carolina, marking a significant milestone in the region’s infrastructural and economic development.
The US$152 million contract for this transformative project was awarded to Lane, the US subsidiary of Webuild Group, by the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) in December 2024.
The I-77 Interchange project is designed to provide direct access to the future Scout Motors manufacturing facility, an electric vehicle production centre backed by Volkswagen Group.
This facility is expected to generate up to 4,000 jobs and serve as a benchmark for the EV manufacturing sector.
Strategically located near major transportation hubs and cities, Scout Motors’ plant will occupy 1,100 acres within Blythewood Industrial Park and aims to produce 200,000 vehicles annually by the end of 2026.
The infrastructure improvements include the construction of four new bridges and ramps to streamline traffic flow, a new east-west road connecting Exit 26 to US 21, and a realignment of US 21 to accommodate a grade-separated Norfolk Southern rail spur.
Additionally, the project involves expanding northbound lanes on I-77 to increase capacity and efficiency while upgrading interchanges to enhance local and regional travel.
These enhancements are expected to ease traffic congestion and support growing transportation demands in the area.
Webuild Group and Lane have pledged to minimise disruptions during construction while maintaining their commitment to sustainable mobility solutions.
The project is part of Lane’s broader efforts in South Carolina, which include work on the I-20 bridges over the Wateree River in Kershaw County.
Nationally, Lane is also engaged in upgrading major infrastructure projects such as the I-275/I-4 Downtown Tampa Interchange in Florida and the I-77/I-40 Interchange in North Carolina.
This development underscores Blythewood’s growing importance as a hub for economic activity and innovation.
Scout Motors’ investment of US$2 billion into its manufacturing operations represents one of Richland County’s largest economic development projects, further solidifying South Carolina’s role as a leader in electric vehicle production.
