Sinkhole could put wrinkle in gameday traffic

Lane reversal enacted to aid drivers

By LEE HIGGINS - lhiggins@thestate.com

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Updated 3 p.m.
The S.C. Department of Transportation will open the southbound lanes of Huger Street to northbound traffic this evening to people attendnig the USC-N.C. State football game can get to Williams-Brice Stadium.

The northbound lanes of Huger are closed because of a large sinkhole that developed Wednesday between Whaley and Blossom streets.

The southbound lanes will be reversed to allow football traffic to leave the stadium and travel northbound on Huger Street.

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Detours will be in place after 10 p.m.:

The southbound lanes of Huger Street will be reversed at approximately 10:00 p.m. to allow football traffic to leave the stadium area and travel northbound on Huger Street.

Drivers traveling southbound on Huger Street at the intersection of Gervais Street will be required to turn left or right onto Gervais Street.

Drivers traveling east from Cayce-West Columbia on Blossom Street will NOT be allowed to turn right on Huger Street. However, drivers coming from that direction can turn right onto Williams Street, left onto Wheat Street and then turn right onto Huger Street in one southbound lane. Drivers traveling west on Blossom Street will NOT be allowed to turn left onto Huger Street.

Drivers traveling east from Cayce-West Columbia on Gervais Street will NOT be allowed to turn right onto Huger Street. Drivers traveling west will NOT be allowed to turn left onto Huger Street.

Drivers traveling southbound on Huger Street at the intersection of Blossom Street will be required to turn right onto Blossom Street in the direction of Cayce.

Exceptions will be made for area residents, business owners and their employees.

Law enforcement officers will direct traffic along Huger Street.

The lane closures are expected to be a problem through Saturday.

“We hope if there are delays that they will be very minimal,” S.C. Highway Patrol spokesman Lance Cpl. Josef Robinson said.

The sinkhole opened as a result of a disjointed pipe, authorities said.

Engineers were still assessing damage Wednesday night, “trying to figure out if the rest of the street is okay,” SCDOT spokesman Pete Poore said. Late Wednesday, engineers determined the southbound lanes near the site of the sinkhole were safe for traffic.

Reach Higgins at (803) 771-8570.