NEWBERRY COUNTY, S.C. — Motorists traveling through Newberry and Laurens counties should be aware that, starting Monday, April 15, the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) will begin working on two bridges along I-26 eastbound, narrowing the traffic flow in the area to one lane.
Bridges at mile marker 65 in Laurens County (Indian Creek) and mile marker 83 in Newberry County (Palmetto Trail) are being rehabilitated, causing the temporary lane closure.
SCDOT Chief Operating Officer Justin P. Powell said, “We recognize that any lane closure on our interstate system is going to cause some travel delays – that is why we have incentivized the contractor to get the work done early and we will assess heavy penalties for every day the project is behind. We appreciate the patience of drivers as we get this critical work done – at the end of the day, we’re making the system stronger and more efficient for the future.”
Drivers in the area are urged to use caution, plan ahead, and expect delays. Real-time traffic and road closure information is available at 511sc.org and on the SCDOT 511 mobile app.
While the bridge work is being done, oversized and heavy vehicles must detour. Routing of larger vehicles will be using SC-66 near Joanna and SC-202 near Little Mountain to use US-76 to avoid the construction zone on I-26.
Work on the bridges is expected to take one month to complete. A similar closure for the westbound direction of I-26 is anticipated in 2025.