COLUMBIA — State officials may have seen enough commercialization along Oconee County’s scenic roads to cause concern, but it wasn’t enough to warrant action.

Michael Covington of the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT), who recently drove the length of S.C. Highway 11 from Cherokee County to Fair Play to evaluate its scenic value, said the state Scenic Highway Commission reviewed staff reports on all scenic highways in the state during a Thursday morning meeting.

“The commission did not act to recommend any de-designation or re-designation,” Covington said. “They have asked the staff to contact local governments and jurisdictions to make them aware of concerns we’ve had while looking at these highways.”

Covington said scenic highways, particularly some stretches of Highway 11, have seen some commercial development not sensitive to the road’s national and state scenic designation. That commercialization was reported to the DOT.

The meeting also dealt with the prospect of designation of S.C. Highway 107, which runs through Oconee State Park, as a scenic highway.

“The committee decided they’d like to go up and look at it themselves,” Covington said. “We anticipate that will be in February or March.”

While official and final de-designation for any scenic highway is ultimately up to the state legislature upon a committee recommendation, the DOT can choose to re-designate specific stretches of highways or exclude them from scenic designation.

Covington said scenic highways often lose their aesthetic value due to improper signage, development and overall maintenance by local governments, with whom care of the roads is entrusted.

Covington added there are some roads in the state with scenic designation that will warrant a second look by the SCDOT.