A portion of Interstate 77 in Richland County will be closed and detours in place from Friday night, Oct. 2, through Sunday evening, Oct. 4, due to a planned bridge demolition.
Heavy traffic congestion and backups are expected. Drivers are advised to plan for delays and consider avoiding this area if possible.
I-77 lane closures and detours will be in 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.
The lane closures and detours are necessary for the demolition of the original SC 277 northbound bridge over I-77. Construction of a new, improved SC 277 northbound bridge over I-77 was finished in mid-September and is open to traffic.
Here 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.
Congestion is expected throughout the weekend's lane closures and detours. Based on past traffic volumes, the worst congestion is expected Saturday afternoon along 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 control and ensuring the public is kept safely away from the demolition site.
SCDOT would like to inform residents within the vicinity of the SC 277 and I-77 Interchange that the demolition of the bridge will bring increase noise and vibrations during the daytime and nighttime operations. Monitoring equipment has been installed around the site to maintain allowable noise and vibration levels.
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.
