COLUMBIA, S.C. — Wednesday evening, the South Carolina Department of Transportation took a major step forward with its Carolina Crossroads Project.
Just after 9 p.m., Exit 108A on I-26 eastbound, the Bush River Road exit, was permanently shut down. Drivers were directed to a brand-new exit ramp leading to Colonial Life Boulevard. From there, drivers could navigate north, back to Bush River Road.
It's the project's next step to ease congestion around what locals not-so-lovingly call Malfunction Junction.
But not everyone is sold on the Bush River Road interchange closing.
Guneet Malhi works at City Gas on Bush River Road and worries that the new traffic pattern will negatively affect local businesses that rely on traffic from I-26.
“It will be a little inconvenient, so I’ll have to find a different way around or a longer route,” Malhi said.
“I think it’s kind of tough on the business owners that were relying on that business from the interstate, Malhi said. "And then always going through the construction process makes it tough, too. Hopefully, overall, it’s a good thing for everyone, but only time will tell."
Other business owners are excited about the changes.
Bryan Armstrong works at Cigar Militia on Colonial Life Boulevard.
“That’s going to be great for Cigar Militia," Armstrong said. "We’re going to have a lot more business coming through here. We have signs outside, so hopefully that should be a positive direction."
Armstrong said Colonial Life Boulevard should be able to handle the increase in traffic.
“They might have to make some changes with the lights, and the timing and things like that. But we will see. I’m not certain on how much it’s going to redo, but we will see," Armstrong said.
The next step in the project is to close the on-ramps from Bush River Road to I-26 on Sunday night.
Drivers will then be forced to access I-26 and I-126 from the new ramps at Colonial Life Boulevard.
SCDOT said the final step in this project phase would occur early next year when the off-ramp from I-26 westbound to Bush River Road will be closed.
The entire project won't be finished until 2029.