COLUMBIA, S.C. — State transportation officials say cracks in a heavily used bridge over an even busier section of the interstate are no cause for alarm after a viewer brought them to News19's attention this week.
The condition of the Harbison Boulevard bridge over I-26, crucial for commuters heading to Columbiana Centre and other shopping locations, has raised concern among residents.
"I was stuck in that morning traffic we had this morning because there were some wrecks up by 20, and I was sitting underneath the Harbison Bridge just looking around and I looked over at the support beams on 26 and I noticed 2-3 giant cracks, and I just sat there and said, 'Oh wow, those are pretty big,' you know," said Lexington resident Tom Dillard, who regularly commutes under the bridge.
We captured video of the cracks from a safe vantage point. A comparison with an image from Google Maps in May 2023 also revealed visible cracks.
Dillard said he was concerned for his safety.
"I was like, 'Umm, I drive under this bridge at least twice a day, five days a week,'" he said. "I would just like to see if this is still safe or not."
News19 contacted the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT), and a spokesperson responded.
"We are aware of the concerns and have been in touch with the community member that contacted us about the matter," the agency said. "The damage is superficial, and the bridge is safe for traffic. The interchange will be replaced as a part of the Carolina Crossroads project."
According to SCDOT's website, the Carolina Crossroads project aims to introduce 132 new lanes and construct 43 new bridges in five phases over the next nine years.
"We all gotta live with it, we all gotta deal with it. It's just they need to do something, and they need to do it fast," said James Fogle, a resident who commutes through Malfunction Junction daily,
SCDOT emphasized that the Harbison Boulevard Bridge is safe and was last inspected in February 2023.
As the community awaits the various phases of the Carolina Crossroads project, concerns persist about the immediate safety of this heavily trafficked bridge.
We reported back in October that SCDOT phase three of the project will not be starting as originally planned, and instead, phases one and two will be accelerated from their original timelines. The first two phases are currently underway.
SCDOT gave no exact dates but said details regarding the project sequence and schedule "are actively being developed" and should be available in early 2024.