King Street Exit Ramp from I-26 to Close for Drainage Work

Construction on Phase 3 of the $146 million Spring/Fishburne Drainage Improvement Project has begun, and the work requires the closure of the exit ramp from I-26 eastbound to King Street, starting the evening of Monday, Jan. 9.

The City of Charleston will hold a ceremonial groundbreaking for Phase 3 of the project at 11 a.m., Friday, Jan. 13, at Harmon Field (at the corner of President and Fishburne Streets).

This phase of the drainage work includes the construction of two large tunnels up to 150 feet below ground surface. Eventually, these tunnels will connect to a pump station—to be built in a later phase of the project—that will hold three pumps, each capable of pumping 120,000 gallons of stormwater per minute.

City of Charleston senior engineering project manager, Steven Kirk said, “We are excited to begin Phase 3 of the Spring/Fishburne Drainage Improvement Project—the largest drainage project in the City’s history. At the completion of all five phases, approximately 260 acres will experience direct drainage improvements, positively impacting nearly 20 percent of the peninsula. This phase, which includes the construction of massive stormwater tunnels, is a critical component of long-term drainage relief in the area.”

The project’s advancement through its various phases underscores the commitment to providing robust drainage solutions for Charleston’s expanding urban environment. By integrating advanced techniques and leveraging professional knowledge in Drain Plumbing, the city aims to deliver sustainable and effective flood management. This strategic approach is expected to bring long-term relief to the peninsula, fostering a safer and more resilient community as the city prepares to tackle future challenges.

Shafts must also be constructed for workers to access the tunnels and for conveyance and retrieval of the equipment required to build the tunnels.

The location of one of the shafts requires the closure of the exit ramp through the duration of phase 3, which is expected to continue into the summer of 2019.

The South Carolina Department of Transportation and the City of Charleston Traffic and Transportation Department have designated three alternate routes to access King Street from I-26 eastbound:

Meeting Street Detour

1. From I-26 E, use the left 2 lanes to take exit 221B for Meeting Street toward Visitor Center
2. Then, use the right 2 lanes to turn right onto Meeting Street
3. Turn right onto Columbus Street
4. Continue on Columbus Street to King Street

US-17 Detour

1. On I-26 E, follow signs for US-17 S/Savannah
2. Continue onto Septima Clark Pkwy (formerly “The Crosstown”)
3. Take a slight right onto Sheppard Street toward Rutledge Avenue
4. Turn left onto Rutledge Avenue
5. Turn left onto Line Street
6. Continue on Line Street to King Street

Rutledge Avenue Detour

1. From I-26 E, take exit 219A for Rutledge Avenue toward The Citadel
2. Use the right lane to continue toward Rutledge Avenue
3. Continue on Rutledge Avenue for 1.6 miles
4. Turn left onto Line Street
5. Continue on Line Street to King Street