A major milestone in the Carolina Crossroads Project to improve the traffic flow in the area of Columbia known as Malfunction Junction took place Wednesday night, as a longtime exit on Interstate 26 was permanently closed and a new one was opened, according to the South Carolina Department of Transportation.
At 9 p.m. Wednesday, SCDOT said the I-26 eastbound off-ramp to Bush River Road was closed — for good.
Drivers looking to access Bush River Road from I-26 now must use the new Colonial Life ramp on I-126 eastbound, SCDOT said in a news release. The new exit is about half a mile past the current Bush River Road exit, accessible from I-126 eastbound, according to the release.
This move is one of many that are part of the Carolina Crossroads Project, to improve traffic in the area near the line between Richland and Lexington counties where there’s a junction for I-26, I-126 and Interstate 20. And it’s not the only one that will affect drivers on Bush River Road.
At 9 p.m. Sunday, the I-26 on-ramps at Bush River Road will close, with alternate access provided at the new Colonial Life ramp onto I-126 westbound, according to SCDOT.
Drivers traveling from Bush River Road to I-26 eastbound toward Charleston will drive to Colonial Life Boulevard and follow the signs at the I-126 interchange to connect to the I-26 flyover to Charleston, SCDOT said.
Vehicles driving in the opposite direction, from Bush River Road to I-26 westbound toward Spartanburg will take the new Colonial Life Boulevard interchange at I-126 and follow the signs to access the ramp to I-26 west, according to SCDOT.
The final closure of the I-26 westbound off-ramp to Bush River Road will take place early next year, SCDOT said.
The Irmo Fire District, which announced the shift prior to the exit being closed, had a tongue in cheek reaction to a Thursday morning traffic jam near the former Exit 108.
“Judging by the traffic this morning, a lot of people didn’t get the memo,” said a post on the fire district’s Facebook page. “There’s a new southern saying on my radar — ‘mixed reactions.’ It’s right up there with ‘bless their hearts’ when you want to describe a situation realistically and still qualify for a blessing on Sunday.”
Perhaps Sunday’s blessings will mean more drivers will be aware of the change scheduled to happen that night and vehicles will flow more smoothly through I-26’s new traffic pattern.
