The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) invites the public to attend the upcoming Public Information Meeting on Phase 1 Construction of the Carolina Crossroads I-20/26/126 Corridor Project. This historic project is the largest interstate improvement project in the history of SCDOT. It is designed to relieve a major pinch point in South Carolina's Interstate Highway System.
The purpose of the meeting is to present the public with a first look at design plans for Phase 1 construction and provide information about how construction will impact traffic. There will also be opportunities for one-on-one conversations with the project team in order to have questions answered about Phase 1 construction.
For those unable to attend in person, a virtual public meeting will be available online at www.scdotcarolinacrossroads.com/phase1meeting.
The meeting will be held:
| Date | Time | Location |
| Thursday, November 18, 2021 | 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. | Dutch Square Mall 421 Bush River Road Columbia, SC 29210 (Mall entrance next to the Dollar Tree) |
Phase 1 of the Carolina Crossroads project will center on the reconfiguration of the Colonial Life Boulevard interchange on I-126. Some improvements will also be made to improve traffic flow along I-26 heading in the direction of US 378.
In May 2021, Secretary of Transportation Christy A. Hall signed a contract worth $208 million for Phase 1 of the Carolina Crossroads project which formalized the partnership between SCDOT and the Archer-United Joint Venture (Archer Western and United Infrastructure). AUJV received a Notice to Proceed (NTP) in June 2021.
The AUJV team will use the innovative "design-build" method for the construction of Phase 1 of Carolina Crossroads. This strategy will allow the final design work and construction to be completed by a proven team of industry experts on an expedited schedule.
Major construction for Phase 1 is anticipated to start in spring 2022. However, early activities such as utility relocation, tree clearing, and building demolition are already underway and selective resurfacing will commence later this month. Substantial completion is scheduled for late 2024.
The entire Carolina Crossroads Project will be constructed in five phases. AUJV was announced as the recipient of a $127 Million contract to build Phase 2 of the Carolina Crossroads Project in summer 2021 and received notice to proceed in November 2021.
The remaining phases will advance over the next several years in succession. All five phases of Carolina Crossroads are anticipated to be fully complete and open to traffic by the end of 2029.
Upon completion, the entire Carolina Crossroads project will include:
- 14 miles of interstate widening across portions of I-26, I-20, and I-126,
- seven reconstructed interchanges, featuring the replacement of outdated cloverleaf loops with modern ramp designs, and
- safer interchange exit points that are farther apart and separated from other interstate traffic, resulting in better traffic flow.
The $1.7 billion project is a part of SCDOT's 10-Year Plan to bring our state's infrastructure up to a state of good repair and modernize key portions of our interstates. The 10-Year Plan is funded with a combination of federal and state funds, including funds made possible by the 2017 state gas tax increase. The Carolina Crossroads project will be funded by 90% federal funds and 10% state funds.
The total interstate investment in the Midlands under construction or planned is approximately $2.4 billion. Statewide, SCDOT has tripled its road work to $3.4 billion in recent years and is ahead of schedule in the fourth year of the 10-Year Plan.
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