COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) will temporarily close the I-20 westbound ramp to I-26 westbound, known as Exit 64B, in Richland County for construction. The closure will begin at 11 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 16, and is expected to last until 5 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 19.
This closure is part of the broader Carolina Crossroads project, which aims to improve what locals call "Malfunction Junction."
Jeff Hammond, a resident, shared his frustrations with the current traffic conditions in the area. "I would rather go 30 miles out of the way as long as I'm moving at a normal pace instead of sitting there going one foot, stopping, one foot, stopping, and that's what traffic is like now," Hammond said.
Since the start of the Carolina Crossroads project, Hammond said he has avoided the interstate whenever possible. "The only time I take the interstate this time of day is because I'm working and I have to take the interstate. There is no other way to get to where I am going unless I take the interstate," he added.
While the project is currently in Phases 1 and 2, this ramp closure is part of the second phase, which focuses on improvements to I-20 and Broad River Road. SCDOT Media Relations Manager Hannah Robinson provided an update on the progress.
“If you're driving through Broad River Road now, you'll see that we have a new bridge on Broad River Road we opened recently, and we demolished a bridge that was existing there,” Robinson said. “So Phase 2 consists of the bridge that we just constructed, and there will be another bridge we are constructing on Broad River Road.”
Robinson explained that once the new bridges are connected, they will form an offset-diverging diamond intersection. This intersection is expected to alleviate excessive traffic on Broad River Road and provide safer access to I-20 westbound.
To facilitate the construction, SCDOT announced the temporary closure of the I-20 westbound ramp to I-26 westbound. Drivers will be able to detour during the closure.
“You're going to use that cloverleaf interchange, continue on I-20 westbound, get off on 64A onto I-26 eastbound, then exit 107B back onto I-20 on the eastbound side, and finally, you'll exit onto 64B to I-26 westbound,” Robinson explained.
While SCDOT does not have an estimate for how much time the detour will add to travel, Robinson emphasized that the closure was scheduled over the weekend to minimize disruptions for weekday commuters.
Though the ramp will only be closed temporarily, Robinson urged drivers to stay alert and be patient as the Carolina Crossroads project continues.
“We ask people to slow down, pay attention to signage, and be mindful of crews working on the road,” Robinson said. “We are trying to get this project done so you can move safely and quickly throughout the Midlands.”
For those wanting to stay updated on road closures, SCDOT recommends frequently checking their 511 SC website.