KERSHAW COUNTY, S.C. — Authorities are providing new details regarding exactly what led to the emergency closure of a major interstate's westbound lanes in South Carolina - and how long repairs could take.
Ginny Jones with the South Carolina Department of Transportation said the closure of I-20 West near Camden was the result of a discovery that one of the interstate bridges had "settled."
"We wanted to close it down to be able to make emergency repairs so that it would be safe for driving," she said.
She said the race is now on to get the repairs completed as quickly and safely as possible. She said SCDOT has the staff and support to get the repairs done.
"We're going to have it repaired as soon as we possibly can," she said.
Until then, she said drivers will need to take a detour through the outskirts of Camden that will drop them further down the interstate - the details of which are posted online. Officials said repairs could take up to a week.
While crews work to repair the bridge, Jones urges travelers to drive safely and be patient.
"If you are headed this way, please check out the detour and know where to go," Jones said. "We appreciate your patience as you get ready to travel for the holidays, and we will be done with this emergency repair as soon as we possibly can."