No Columbia street closures, but here’s where officers will be directing eclipse traffic

The Columbia Police Department officers will be stationed at various major intersections throughout the city to prevent traffic congestion and assist drivers on their way to viewing spots for Monday’s eclipse.

In Columbia, a partial eclipse begins around 1:13 p.m. and continues until about 4:06 p.m. Darkness comes at 2:41 p.m. and lasts for 2 minutes and 30 seconds downtown.

“We anticipate considerable traffic congestion in the city of Columbia on Monday,” police Chief Skip Holbrook said in a statement. “We ask everyone traveling to pack their patience.”

The S.C. Highway Patrol has extra officers on hand and contingency plans in place, should traffic become a problem in certain areas. However, conditions on Sunday were normal, according to Lance Cpl. Judd Jones.

“Just our normal weekend traffic,” he said. “We have no lane reversals planned, no road closures. We're just going to monitor traffic and keep everything running.”

As of Sunday, there are no planned street closures Monday in the city of Columbia. But Columbia police officers will man and monitor heavily traveled intersections, including:

Assembly & Gervais streets

Assembly & Taylor streets

Assembly & Hampton streets

Assembly & Laurel streets

Assembly Street & Elmwood Avenue

Huger & Hampton streets

Huger & Taylor streets

Huger & Laurel streets

Interstate I-126

Blossom & Huger streets

Blossom & Assembly streets

Elmwood Avenue & Main street

Elmwood Avenue & Bull Street

Bull Street & Colonial Drive

Bull & Harden Streets

Columbia police also will be stationed in other areas:

Entertainment districts:

Five Points

The Vista

Main Street Corridor

Devine Street Corridor

Green Street Corridor

Riverfront Park

Finlay Park

South East Park

Additional locations:

SC State Museum

EdVenture Children’s Museum

Coble Plaza

Drew Wellness Center

City Garages

Owens Field Park

Columbia Fireflies traffic:

At the conclusion of the game, Monday, officers will direct traffic out of Spirit Communications Park toward Bull Street (southbound) to 277.

Drivers on Colonial Drive will be routed to 277 from Harden Street. This effort will lessen potential traffic congestion after the game.

This story was originally published August 20, 2017 at 12:18 PM with the headline "No Columbia street closures, but here’s where officers will be directing eclipse traffic."