COLUMBIA, S.C. — Starting Friday night, traffic patterns will shift on a portion of interstates in South Carolina known as Malfunction Junction. The State Transportation Department (SCDOT) said this will be at the I-26 flyover ramp.
"There’s been dump trucks, bulldozers, you name it," said Linda Turner, who lives next to the ongoing project. Carolina Crossroads Project.
Turner said she has lived in her house for 48 years.
"So many roots and rocks and everything else out here [in the yard]," Turner said. "One time, I counted, and the bang, bang, bang, it was 361 times for just one pole."
Starting Friday night and continuing into Monday morning, SCDOT said drivers going from I-126 West to I-26 East must take Exit 107 toward I-20 West. Then, they’ll have to stay to the right in the interchange loop and merge onto I-26 East toward Charleston.
SCDOT explained that message boards and signage would stay up to help direct drivers.
SCDOT said that this detour will shift traffic from the existing flyover ramp to the new permanent ramp that has already been completed in Phase I.
Transportation officials added that this closure is so crews can begin paving roads in this area.
Another neighbor to the Carolina Crossroads Project, Sharon Logan, tells News 19 she’s not looking forward to what’s coming.
"Now, there’s going to be rerouted traffic in every direction, so it’s just kind of, it’s just going to be a pain," Logan said.
"I’m looking forward to it to be done," Turner said.
SCDOT said this detour is a part of Phase I.
The project has five phases, nine years of construction, and 43 new bridges.