Should I-85/385 interchange be named for Trump or Obama? SC lawmakers propose opposing bills

Two Upstate lawmakers have sponsored a bill that would name the interchange of Interstates 85 and 385 after President Donald Trump.

State Reps. Stewart Jones of Laurens and Jonathon Hill of Anderson introduced the resolution on Jan. 22. It asks the state Department of Transportation to designate the section of highway the President Donald J. Trump Interchange and erect markers containing those words.

The resolution states that Trump "fights tirelessly to restore our American values and defeat the radical left," and that the president "has kept his promises to improve the economy, build the wall, defund Planned Parenthood, cut ISIS off at the head, and stop endless wars."

A change.org petition to prevent local legislators from changing the name of the interchange in honor of President Trump began circulating Sunday.

On Jan. 28, Democratic State Reps. John King of Chester and Shedron Williams of Hampton submitted a resolution asking the state DOT to name the interchange in honor of President and First Lady Barack and Michelle Obama.

That resolution says the former President and First Lady "fought tirelessly to maintain and enhance American values during their time in the White House." It also mentions the former President's Nobel Peace Prize "for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples."

The I-85 and I-385 interchange is part of the Gateway Project, which began construction in 2016 to ease the traffic congestion at the convergence of the two interstates. The cost of the project has been estimated near $250 million, with 70% funded by the Federal Highway Administration.

More: Greenville drivers, there's light at the end of the tunnel for 4-year Gateway project

The final bridge in the project opened to traffic late last year, and the project is expected to be completed by this summer. About 200,000 vehicles travel through the intersection each day, according to the DOT.

A lawmaker in Oklahoma made a similar proposal to name a roadway for President Trump in 2019. State Sen. Nathan Dahm wanted to rename a four-mile span of Route 66 after the president. The state's Republican Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell rejected the idea of naming the stretch after Trump or anyone else, according to a USA Today report. In November 2019, Dahm gave up the effort.