The Inside Track on the Carolina Crossroads Project

Motorists traveling around and through South Carolina have been enjoying the benefits of its superior interstate systems (unlike the backroads of yesteryear) for more than half a century. In fact, thoroughfares such as Interstates 20 and 26 have contributed to the economic progress and population explosion that the Midlands region has experienced in recent years. The corresponding traffic generated by this boom, however, has outpaced the efficiency of some of the configurations along these roadways. Although exceptional and expedient when constructed, certain passages of this infrastructure—such as the notorious Malfunction Junction—are now overdue for an overhaul. In response to the public’s concerns, the South Carolina Department of Transportation has developed and implemented the “Carolina Crossroads” project to resolve troubling congestion and safety issues and to prepare Columbia for a better future.

As a thriving metropolitan hub, the Columbia area has been well served for decades by two primary interstate systems: I-26 and I-20. I-26 is a major thoroughfare that diagonally traverses South Carolina, while I-20 is the main east-to-west roadway that extends across most of the state. Both motorways were constructed between the 1950s and 1960s in response to the Federal-Aid Highway Act, a game-changing project that was spearheaded by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Along their combined 362-mile span, these highways intersect with other strategic interstates and connect several larger metropolitan areas, as well as scores of small towns and municipalities, to promote commerce and community.

When first constructed, these high-quality road systems were designed to improve and facilitate traffic flow and provide easier access to areas throughout and beyond the state, which they certainly did achieve. Over time, however, many of the urban regions on their pathways experienced unprecedented growth in both the population and economy, and along with this positive surge, a corresponding uptick in traffic counts also occurred.

Columbia is not immune to the congestion that a dramatic increase in traffic flow can create, and one of its most infamous bottlenecking debacles is the complicated cloverleaf interchange between Interstates 20 and 26. Located a few miles northeast of the capital city, this intersection has been informally and aptly labeled as “Malfunction Junction,” since acute safety and slowdown issues commonly occur at this complex site.

In response to mounting concerns, a South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) team began working on a solution, and in July 2017, this state government agency announced the rollout of a 10-year plan to reconstruct and improve the local infrastructure within and around this challenging convergence in Columbia. This $2.08-billion endeavor is funded by the SCDOT using a combination of federal and state funds. Under the direction of South Carolina’s transportation secretary, Justin Powell, and in coordination with the Federal Highway Administration, this project has been dubbed the Carolina Crossroads I-20/26/126 Corridor Improvement Project (abbreviated as “Carolina Crossroads”).

A statistical analysis published by the SCDOT on traffic patterns associated with this roadway strongly supports the decision to take immediate action to address this dire situation, as demonstrated by the following facts:

• More than 134,000 vehicles travel through this road section every day.
• Between now and 2040, the Midlands region’s population is projected to grow an average of 70 percent, and this will undoubtedly lead to an increase in traffic flow. As the number of vehicles using these roads increases, so will the correlating congestion.
• After the construction is completed, the average commuter through the I-20/26/126 corridor is projected to save an estimated 112 hours of travel time each year.

The expected outcomes of this improvement project are ambitious but assuring. According to Brian Klauk, the project director for Carolina Crossroads with the SCDOT’s Office of Alternative Delivery, “The highway project will reconfigure 14 miles of the I-20, I-26, and I-126 corridor, including the area commonly known as Malfunction Junction.” Ultimately, the “goals” of the Carolina Crossroads project are to “accommodate future traffic needs, reduce traffic congestion, enhance safety throughout the corridor, and improve freight mobility.”

In addition to revamping and/or reconstructing 43 new bridges and 7 interchanges, issues related to several key sections of the interstate corridor, in both Lexington and Richland Counties, will also be addressed. Specifically, these identified sections include “I-20 near 378 to the Broad River crossing, I-26 from Broad River Road to US Highway 378, and I-126 from I-26 to Colonial Life Boulevard,” explains Project Director Klauk.

The project, which is comprised of five multifaceted phases, as summarized in the table below, has already been initiated, as evidenced by the daily construction activity clearly and vigorously underway along the affiliated thoroughfares.

Although the goals of these phases are ordered consecutively, some overlap will occur in the execution process. “Separate phases of the project will be under construction simultaneously, depending on the type of work and location,” says Project Director Klauk. “However, this sequencing is being strategically planned to minimize traffic disruption and provide significant quality-of-life improvements throughout the process, ensuring that the public will notice substantial changes before the project’s completion.”

Commenced in 2021, “Phases 1 and 2 are nearing completion,” says Project Director Klauk. While Phase 3A began most recently, Phases 3D and 3E will involve the restructuring of the main interchange areas targeted by the Carolina Crossroads project—the I-20/I-26 interchange and the I-26/I-126 interchange.

“Examples of substantial changes that have taken place to date,” adds Project Director Klauk, “are the new exit lane for traffic leading from I-20 westbound to I-26 westbound, the new ramp from I-26 eastbound to US 378, the relocation of Garner Lane, and the opening of a new bridge on Broad River Road.”

During this extended and extensive undertaking, drivers may continue to experience some frustration (and perhaps even confusion) as they maneuver through and around these evolving roadways and the corresponding obstacles this renovation may occasionally present. To preserve the integrity of everyone in the community—including other drivers and construction workers—safety must be the foremost concern of all motorists. “We also ask that drivers be cautious and slow down when traveling in work zones,” says Project Director Klauk.

To possibly circumvent delays, Project Director Klauk advises, “Drivers can plan their route ahead of time by visiting 511sc.org or downloading the 511SC app on their phone.” To find out additional information about the project and its progress, including regularly updated traffic alerts, motorists can visit the Carolina Crossroads website at scdotcarolinacrossroads.com. The public can also access SCDOT’s statewide website for supplemental traffic, traveling, and transportation-related resources.