Interstate 385 Rehabilitation Project Begins Jan. 4, 2010

LAURENS COUNTY, SC – December 29, 2009 – The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) reminds motorists of the detour of I-385 northbound traffic in Laurens County that will begin at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 4, 2010.  The primary detour will route motorists up I-26 westbound to I-85 southbound in Spartanburg.  Other alternate detour routes are available and motorists are asked to plan their trips accordingly.  Traffic traveling southbound on I-385 will not be detoured.

The rehabilitation project begins at mile point 0 at the I-385/I-26 interchange and extends north up I-385 for approximately 15 miles. The project, which includes improvements to both northbound and southbound directions, is expected to be completed Aug. 15, 2010. Motorists will still be able to use northbound I-385 beginning at SC route 92, exit 16.

The project consists of milling some of the existing asphalt interstate and replacing it with approximately 10 inches of high strength concrete.  The interstate will also be widened toward the median to add shoulders where needed to provide a finished typical section that has a 4-foot inside paved shoulder, two 12-foot travel lanes, and a 10-foot outside paved shoulder. The flyover bridge that connects I-26 westbound to I-385 northbound will also be replaced within the scope of this project.

Additional information on the project, including detour routes and construction updates, is available at www.i385rehab.com.  Project brochures and state maps can be found at the I-26 westbound rest area in Newberry County, the I-85 northbound rest area in Anderson County, and the I-385 rest area in Laurens County.  The project also has a highway advisory radio station that can be accessed near the I-26/I-385 interchange on AM 1680.