Work on $2B overhaul of SC’s ‘Malfunction Junction’ to continue past 2030. What to know
Residents who travel through Columbia’s infamous Interstate 20, 26 and 126 corridor, dubbed ‘Malfunction Junction’ by locals, are about to see a lot more big trucks and work crews as the state proceeds with its $2 billion, 14-mile overhaul of the roadway.
But that doesn’t mean a permanent fix to the multi-interchange headache is coming soon.
Crews are beginning to clear trees and other vegetation from 170 acres down the stretch of I-26 between Bush River and Beatty roads, including the clover-shaped I-20 and I-26 interchange at the heart of the ‘malfunctioning’ corridor.
“It’s going to be very visible to the public,” said Brian Klauk, the Department of Transportation’s project director overseeing the effort, which the department has named Carolina Crossroads.
There will be heavy machinery moving a lot of vegetation, and they will be doing it while traffic continues to flow. The department is not planning to close any stretch of road in this step of work, but there will be a few overnight lane closures on the interstate, Klauk said.
But Klauk also warned drivers not to get too excited too fast. This work is only preparation. First, they need to clear things like trees and buried logs to then relocate utilities. The actual reconstruction of the corridor’s primary interchange is not expected to begin until 2030.
It’s a long timeline, Klauk acknowledged. But despite the scope of work, Klauk said the first two phases of work are expected to be done close to on time – by Spring 2025. Initially, the department estimated the first phase would be done by late 2024, with phase two being completed by early 2025.
Some of the work that is finished or almost done, according to the transportation’s most recent update Jan. 7, include:
All travel lanes and ramps on I-26 and I-126 at Colonial Life Boulevard are open and in their final locations.
The eastbound bridge on Broad River Road at I-20 is finished and in-use.
The new bridge from Broad River Road to I-20 westbound is finished and in-use.
The department this week also announced that a new exit ramp from I-20 West to I-26 West will open late in the day Jan. 9. Crews will permanently close the existing I-20 West exit ramp at the I-26 interchange.
Other steps in the project have been more delayed from their original schedule, but the department is also doing some work concurrently — meaning when possible they aren’t waiting to start one phase until the next is complete.
At a public information meeting Tuesday, the department shared an updated timeline for the project, with the last piece of work not beginning until 2030. A 2021 map of the Carolina Crossroads construction schedule had all of the work complete by the end of 2029.
More information about the ongoing road project is available at carolinacrossroads.com. The Department of Transportation has also been holding periodic public meetings. The next meeting will be advertised by the department on the project website.
This story was originally published January 8, 2025 at 11:46 AM.
