January 5 Begins Detour on Hwy. 221 at the Intersection of Elm St.

Spartanburg Water is making repairs to a waterline that failed earlier in December 

On December 5, 2025, a 20-inch cast iron distribution waterline failed near the intersection of Hwy. 221 (Chesnee Hwy.) and Elm Street. Due to the depth of the waterline below ground and heavy equipment required to make the repair, the licensed contractor, Two Brothers, has been selected to perform the work on behalf of Spartanburg Water. 

With the logistics of the repair, including extensive repairs to the roadway, as well as the overall size of the repair and concerns for safety, a detour will be utilized beginning on January 5, 2025, until it is both safe and feasible to open some lanes to traffic. It is expected that the detour will not last the entirety of the project. The full project is projected to last 14 days, dependent on weather conditions. 

There is in place directional signage and electronic message boards to guide drivers affected by the detour. 

The following southbound (for traffic traveling into Spartanburg) and northbound (for traffic traveling out of Spartanburg) detours will be utilized: 

Hwy. 221 Southbound Detour (Traveling into Spartanburg) 

• Head south on US-221 S 
• Turn right to merge onto I-85 S toward Greenville 
• Use the right 2 lanes to take exit 77 for I-85BL toward Freeway Loop/Spartanburg 
• Continue onto I-85 BL S 
• Take exit 5A for I-585 S/US-176 E/Pine Street toward Downtown 
• Merge onto I-585 S/US-176 E 

Hwy. 221 Northbound Detour (Leaving Spartanburg) 

• Head northwest on I-585 N 
• Take the I-85 BUS Loop N exit toward Charlotte 
• Merge onto I-85 BL N 
• Use any lane to merge onto I-85 N toward Charlotte 
• Take exit 78 for US 221 N toward Chesnee 
• Use any lane to turn left onto US-221 N/Chesnee Hwy 

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