Road Upgrades in Limbo, Plans Stall for S.C. Buc-ee’s

Buc-ee’s in Anderson? Not So Fast… $60 Million Problem Could Kill the Deal

 

Anderson County’s much-hyped Buc-ee’s may never see the light of day - and money is at the heart of the problem.

 

Plans to bring the wildly popular travel center to Exit 21 off I-85 have slammed into a major funding wall. The site needs $60 million in infrastructure upgrades to handle the expected traffic surge, but only a fraction of that has been secured.

 

To date, just $6 million is on the table - with $1 million from Buc-ee’s itself and $5 million in federal funds championed by Senator Lindsey Graham. That leaves a whopping $54 million gap. And here’s the kicker:

 

“They are still committed to building the Anderson location, but the county has to find the funds… Buc-ee’s can’t wait forever,” said County Administrator Rusty Burns.

 

Despite already owning the land, Buc-ee’s has made it clear: they’re not paying the rest.

 

Now the county is scrambling, hoping to tap into the South Carolina Transportation Infrastructure Bank - but that process isn’t fast, and Buc-ee’s has other options.

 

So what does this mean for Anderson?

 

Some locals are frustrated that a project of this scale was announced without the money to back it up. Others argue the Exit 21 interchange desperately needs upgrades regardless of Buc-ee’s - so why wasn’t this already being addressed?

 

One thing is clear: the clock is ticking, and Anderson may be at risk of losing one of the biggest economic development opportunities it’s had in years.

 

Will politics, red tape, or lack of vision cost us Buc-ee’s?

Let us know what YOU think. 

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