RICHLAND COUNTY, S.C. — A portion of Interstate 77 in Richland County will be closed from Friday night, Oct. 2, through Sunday evening, Oct. 4, due to a planned bridge demolition.
Drivers should expect heavy traffic congestion and should follow detours that will be put in place. Drivers are advised to plan for delays and consider avoiding this area if possible.
I-77 lane closures and detours will be place from Percival Road (mile marker 15) to Killian Road (mile marker 22) beginning Friday night, Oct. 2, through Sunday night, Oct. 4. I-77 in both directions will be shut down for 1.2 miles from the Two Notch Road interchange to the SC 277 exit.
According to the South Carolina Department of Transportation, these lane closures and detours are necessary to demolish the SC 277 northbound bridge over I-77. A new bridge was finished mid-September and is now open to traffic.
Below is the schedule for lane closures and detours:
- I-77 southbound lane closures will begin at 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, starting at Killian Road (mile marker 22). By 11 p.m. Friday, I-77 southbound traffic will be detoured onto SC 277 southbound to Fontaine Road, northbound SC 277, eastbound I-20 to I-77.
- I-77 northbound lane closures will begin at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 2, starting at Percival Road (mile marker 15). By 11 p.m. Friday, I-77 northbound traffic will be detoured onto I-20 westbound, SC 277 southbound to Fontaine Road, northbound SC 277 to I-77.
- Traffic on Two Notch Road will have access to I-77 only via the southbound on-ramp. The northbound on-ramp to I-77 will be closed at Two Notch Road.
According to SCDOT, the worst traffic is expected Saturday afternoon northbound I-77 in the Percival Road area with backups as far as the Decker Boulevard interchange or beyond. Law enforcement will be assisting with traffic.
SCDOT is also notifying residents around the interchange that the demolition will increase noise and vibrations during the day and night. They are monitoring the site to maintain allowable noise and vibration levels, according to the release.
SCDOT’s contractor will be using excavators and other heavy equipment to demolish the SC 277 northbound bridge. Explosives will not be used.
SCDOT reminds the public to use caution and obey posted speed limits while driving through the work zones and detour routes. “Let ‘em Work, Let ‘em Live.”
Motorists can use SCDOT’s 511 Traveler system: http://www.511sc.org/ to help make travel decisions.
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