City announces plan to expand I-95 and open Bu-Cee's in Hardeeville

HARDEEVILLE, SC (WTOC) – During Thursday night’s city council meeting, officials announced a major development: a new Buc-ee’s travel center will arrive in the Hardeeville area.

The popular beaver mascot, ‘Bu-cee’, is heading to Hardeeville!

“We are in the early stages of building a travel center with the Buc-ee’s elite brand logo,” said Harry Williams, Mayor of the City of Hardeeville.

“At the intersection of Highway 278 and 17 and bordered on one side by I-95,” Williams said.

That’s an area where residents say there is often a lot of traffic.

One of those residents sent an email to the council and during Thursday night’s meeting, those concerns were read by council member Valarie Guzman.

“With this plan in potential development and the potential for the travel center, I have serious concerns about the concentration of vehicle traffic and traffic about to hit the 278.17 area,” Guzman said.

The mayor has also raised these concerns, saying the plan for Buc-ee’s is part of their master plan, which includes expanding I-95 and making changes to a nearby exit.

“SCDOT will begin expanding in the spring of 2025,” Williams said. “The first phase of the plan is to go from the state line all the way to milepost nine, just past exit eight.”

The total project is expected to last approximately three years, with Buc-ee construction timed to align with these developments.

“And at the same time, Buc-ee’s will plan their construction so that the widening, the changes to exit eight and the opening of Buc-ee’s will have three ribbon cuttings that day,” said Mayor Williams.

Mayor Williams expressed his excitement about the new opportunities and jobs the project will bring to the area.

For more details about the master plan, see the document below: