When will traffic return to normal on this under-construction Columbia thoroughfare?
A busy commercial stretch of Garners Ferry Road has been reduced to single-lane traffic while contractors repair damage caused by a water main break earlier this month. Officials say that work should be complete by Friday.
The road work begins where Devine Street transitions into Garners Ferry Road, near the Fort Jackson Boulevard intersection. The congested traffic extends through the first commercial corridor on that stretch, affecting access to businesses including the Cross Hill Market shopping plaza. Traffic is often backed up at Devine Street and Beltline Boulevard.
“We have gone back to one lane in each direction pushing to get all the milling and repaving complete before the winter storm settles in on Friday,” Columbia Water spokesperson Robert Yanity said via email.
The six-lane roadway has been reduced to single-lane traffic for the past week. It briefly opened up to two-lanes Wednesday morning before contractors reverted back to a single open lane to expedite their work. Snow and freezing rain is in the forecast for the Midlands Friday into Saturday, and the cold weather would further delay the road repairs.
An 8 inch water main in the area broke earlier this month. Columbia Water repaired that break last week, but temperatures have to be above 45 degrees for contractors to lay new asphalt. Yanity said the work could be complete by Thursday evening, with the goal of beating the cold temperatures expected in Columbia by Friday.
Yanity said the South Carolina Department of Transportation will determine when traffic control is removed from the area.
