SCDOT marks progress in Malfunction Junction project, permanently closing I-26 on-ramp
South Carolinians in the Midlands are one step closer to seeing smoother traffic around Columbia’s notorious Malfunction Junction area.
The S.C. Department of Transportation announced Tuesday they’ve completed the second step, out of three, toward making Malfunction Junction safer for motorists. The state agency said it will permanently close the Interstate 26 on-ramps at Bush River Road beginning at 9 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 1. Drivers will now use the newly constructed ramp at Colonial Life Boulevard at I-126 to access I-26 eastbound and westbound, according to a news release.
The move, a part of the agency’s Carolina Crossroads program, comes after it announced last month the permanent closure of an off-ramp off I-26 to Bush River Road.
Drivers currently looking to access Bush River Road from I-26 now must use the new Colonial Life Boulevard ramp on I-126 eastbound. The new exit is about half a mile past the current Bush River Road exit, accessible from I-126 eastbound.
“Drivers should be aware of these traffic shifts and can plan their routes ahead of time by using SCDOT’s 511 SC app or by visiting 511sc.org,” the news release said.
