Interstate 20 eastbound traffic shift in Lexington County begins November 14

The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) announces a major traffic shift planned for the Interstate 20 widening project in Lexington County.

Beginning the night of Thursday, November 14, the new traffic shift will affect eastbound I-20 in Lexington from SC-6 to US-378. This shift will not affect westbound traffic.

The next phase of the project is to remove and reconstruct the existing eastbound concrete travel lanes and replace the eastbound bridge over Meat Plant Road. To do this, traffic will be shifted onto the newly constructed inside lanes.

This shift will split the eastbound motorists into two separate lanes of traffic bordered by concrete barriers.The right lane will travel adjacent to the eastbound lanes and will be able to access all existing exits. The left lane will travel adjacent to the westbound lanes and will bypass the exits to SC-6 and US-1, but will have access to the US-378 exit.

This means motorists planning to exit at SC-6 or US-1 should choose the right lane when the shift begins prior to the SC-6 interchange. The traffic split will occur at approximately mile point 53.5 and end at mile point 60.

The shift will be performed over three days and traffic will be in several alignments throughout this period while temporary concrete barriers are relocated and exit ramps realigned. Temporary closure of eastbound exit and entrance ramps at SC-6 and US-1 will occur after 8pm on Sunday, November 17.  Detour signage and message boards will be in-place to direct traffic during any closures.  Work related to the traffic shift is scheduled to be completed by Monday morning.

Advance signage, roadside message boards, and overhead signs will be in place to guide motorists though this traffic shift. In addition, a visualization of the new traffic pattern is available at the following link:  https://youtu.be/MB832TIS3uk

Motorists are advised to use caution when traveling through the work zone. The speed limit will be posted at 55 mph and 60 mph throughout the work zone. Wide loads traveling I-20 eastbound through the work zone are advised to use US-178 and SC-302 as an alternate route.

This traffic pattern will be in place for approximately 9 months. Once the eastbound lanes are complete, a similar traffic shift will occur in the reverse direction to remove and reconstruct the westbound lanes.

The road work is part of a four-phase project to widen an 11-mile stretch of I-20 in Lexington County. The project extends from mile marker 60 near US-378 to mile marker 49 at Longs Pond Road. Upon completion, the project will add a third inside lane in both directions aimed at reducing traffic congestion. It is expected to be completed in the summer of 2021

Motorists can use SCDOT’s 511 Traveler Info http://www.511sc.org/ to check road conditions.

For more information concerning this project, the public may contact SCDOT Resident Construction Engineer Allen Thompson at (803) 737-6660 or at [email protected].