The epzik8 Webpage
U.S. Route 76 west - Marion to Florence
In Florence County, South Carolina, east of the city of the same name, U.S. Route 76 and U.S. Route 301 (Palmetto Street) approach a traffic signal at South Carolina Highway 327, as indicated by the set of yellow flashers above. Photo taken 10-05-2023.
The Region 2 office of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources is accessed through a left turn at the signal. Photo taken 10-05-2023.
Also at left is Francis Marion University, while straight ahead is a National Guard recruiting office. Photo taken 10-05-2023.
From this intersection, SC 327 runs concurrent with US 76/301 for a short distance. Photo taken 10-05-2023.
Southbound SC 327 proceeds from here as a rural collector running east and south of Florence, eventually reconnecting with US 301, at that point concurrent with U.S. Route 52, in Effingham. Photo taken 10-05-2023.
All three routes are acknowledged on the shield assembly following the intersection. There is also a hurricane evacuation route marker and a "TO" Interstate 20 marker, this last highway beginning just west of Florence proper. Photo taken 10-05-2023.
The speed limit at this point is 50 miles per hour. Photo taken 10-05-2023.
An old gas station and several trees now surround the highway. Photo taken 10-05-2023.
Things then get lively again with another traffic signal, this one intersecting Freedom Boulevard and North Williston Road. Photo taken 10-05-2023.
Both US 301 and SC 327 part ways with US 76 here. Interests to northbound Interstate 95 can take northbound SC 327 from here and completely bypass Florence to the east. On northbound I-95 itself, SC 327 south is marked as going toward Myrtle Beach, in order to likewise allow beach-bound traffic coming mainly from the west to avoid Florence. Photo taken 10-05-2023.
Now traveling solo, US 76 encounters the Greater Florence Airport in two miles, and the center of Florence itself in five. Photo taken 10-05-2023.
The speed limit temporarily goes down to 40 as the highway enters a school zone. Photo taken 10-05-2023.
US 76 now approaches South McCurdy Road and North Williamson Road. Photo taken 10-05-2023.
McCurdy, at left, passes along the south side of Florence Regional. Photo taken 10-05-2023.
The aforementioned National Guard recruiting office is to the left, beside the Department of Motor Vehicles. Photo taken 10-05-2023.
Now with a 45 MPH speed limit, the highway's median has given way to a center left-turn lane. Photo taken 10-05-2023.
The airport's property is subtly visible to the left, in the form of the more open land on that side of the highway. Photo taken 10-05-2023.
The entrance to the airport is from the left lane. Photo taken 10-05-2023.
The entrance sign for the airport refers to it by a previous name, Pee Dee Regional Airport. Photo taken 10-05-2023.
The highway's median becomes grassy again, it briefly gains an extra lane, and prepares to intersect McCall Boulevard. Photo taken 10-05-2023.
Past McCall, the extra lane disappears and the highway prepares to pass under an abandoned railroad bridge with 13-foot, 8-inch clearance. Photo taken 10-05-2023.
Up ahead, US 76 intersects North Cromwell Drive, and it is here that it officially enters Florence's corporate limits. Photo taken 10-05-2023.
The route then veers to the right as indicated by a "TO I-95" shield. Photo taken 10-05-2023.
The center left-turn lane has returned, and the speed limit is 40 miles per hour. Photo taken 10-05-2023.
US 76 now turns sharp-left accompanied by a state-named "TO I-20" shield. Photo taken 10-05-2023.
Staying straight here puts one on Cheves Street, going toward I-95 and US 52 as well as Church Street and the Pee Dee State Farmers Market. Photo taken 10-05-2023.
This sequence is followed by a directionless US 76 shield. Photo taken 10-05-2023.
Subsequently, the route turns back to the right and straightens out. Photo taken 10-05-2023.
At the next traffic signal, US 76 encounters one entrance to the McLeod Regional Medical Center. Photo taken 10-05-2023.
Another hospital entrance is situated four blocks to the west, opposite Galliard Street. Photo taken 10-05-2023.
Just further ahead, trucks bound for northbound US 52 are directed to turn right onto Church Street. Photo taken 10-05-2023.
The Church Street signal itself is seen here. Photo taken 10-05-2023.
Past Church Street, US 76, now medianless, passes under a freight railroad spur that begins just to the north near Florence's Amtrak station. Photo taken 10-05-2023.
South Dargan Street is intersected at the next signal. Photo taken 10-05-2023.
US 76 is marked at the signal as leading to I-20 and southbound I-95. Photo taken 10-05-2023.
The route now prepares to intersect US 52. Photo taken 10-05-2023.
The same I-20/I-95 shield assembly is posted at US 52, which leads north to Darlington and south to Lake City. Photo taken 10-05-2023.
US 52 is also marked as going toward Manning southbound and Charlotte, North Carolina northbound, while US 76 is marked going toward Timmonsville. Photo taken 10-05-2023.
This is followed by more US 76 reassurance, this time with the cardinal direction indicated. Photo taken 10-05-2023.
Another access point to I-20 is from the next signal, at Coit Street. Photo taken 10-05-2023.
The route continues on through a slightly more wooded section of town. Photo taken 10-05-2023.
The speed limit for the time being is 35 miles per hour. Photo taken 10-05-2023.
Another I-95 shield now marks the Interstate as being straight ahead on US 76 west. Photo taken 10-05-2023.
As the road veers slightly to the left, there is another US 76 shield without a directional banner. Photo taken 10-05-2023.
The route now approaches an intersection with Interstate 20 Business. Photo taken 10-05-2023.
US 76 leads from here to I-95 south, while I-20 Business (David H. McLeod Boulevard) leads toward state capital Columbia, to mainline I-20 (which begins a couple of miles to the west at I-95), and I-95 nort. Photo taken 10-05-2023.