The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) is a vital state government agency responsible for the systematic planning, construction, and maintenance of South Carolina's roads, bridges, and mass transit services. Its origins trace back to the South Carolina Good Roads Association in the late 1890s, which advocated for improved infrastructure and led to the creation of the five-member State Highway Commission in 1917, spurred by the Federal Aid Road Act of 1916.

Key developments in the 1920s included the 1924 Pay-As-You-Go Highway Act establishing the state highway system, followed by acts that shifted funding towards bonds for statewide construction. The agency underwent significant reforms, becoming the Department of Highways and Public Transportation (SCDHPT) in 1977, before ultimately splitting in 1993 into the current SCDOT and the Department of Public Safety. Today, SCDOT operates as a centralized executive branch department, reporting to a cabinet secretary, currently Christy A. Hall, and a nine-member commission appointed by the Governor.