Carolina Crossroads

Carolina Crossroads is one of the largest construction ventures in South Carolina's history.

We are reconfiguring 14 miles of the I-20/I-26/I-126 corridor to construct an improved interstate system that places priority on your safety and time and creates enduring change for the Midlands.

Paving the way for...

Reduced traffic congestion
Improved safety
Modern infrastructure
Future growth

Project Phases

Construction on Phases 1 and 2 began in November of 2021. In February 2024, SCDOT announced a project re-phasing plan to improve project delivery and accelerate the timeline for widening I-20. Phase 3 has been divided into subphases, and Phases 4 and 5 have been combined. Phase statuses and timelines are outlined below and on our Project Phases page.

Phase 1: 99% Complete
Phase 2: 95% Complete
Phase 3
- Phase 3A: In pre-procurement
- Phase 3B: 85% Complete
- Phase 3C: Construction begins 2026
- Phase 3D: In pre-procurement
- Phase 3E: In pre-procurement
Phase 4/5: In early design

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Traffic Alerts

Safety is our priority.
Drivers are urged to use caution and reduce their speed while traveling through construction areas. Please watch for construction vehicles entering and exiting project areas. The traffic alerts provided may not always reflect current field conditions due to changes in the construction schedule, weather events, or other impacts.

The South Carolina Department of Transportation will conduct nighttime closures on the I-126 West off-ramp beginning Sunday, May 17. A schedule of the closures can be found below. This work is a part of the Carolina Crossroads project.

Detour Schedule:

From Sunday, May 17, at 7:00 p.m. until Monday, May 18, at 5:00 a.m.
From Monday, May 18, at 7:00 p.m. until Tuesday, May 19, at 5:00 a.m.

As part of this closure, drivers will be detoured to I-26 EB. Message boards, lane closures, and detour signs will be placed along the route to guide motorists.

A map of the detour can be found below.

February 3, 2026
The South Carolina Department of Transportation will hold a drop-in public about Phase 3C of the Carolina Crossroads Project on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the DoubleTree, 2100 Bush River Road, Columbia, SC 29210. Read the full press release
December 19, 2025
The South Carolina Department of Transportation implemented a temporary closure of the I-126 West off-ramp to Colonial Life Boulevard on Monday, December 1, 2025. Due to unanticipated construction delays, this closure is being extended and is now expected to reopen at 10:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 10, 2026. Read the full press release

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Project Overview

Reduce congestion

The Carolina Crossroads Project will help reduce congestion and help the commuting public save an estimated 112 hours annually that would otherwise be spent sitting in traffic.

Modernize infrastructure

The I-20/I-26/I-126 corridor is key to South Carolina's economy and serves as a major hub for commuters, travelers, and commerce. The modernized infrastructure:

Replaces cloverleaf loops with an updated interchange to make it easier for drivers to change interstate highways.
Adds traffic lanes in each direction of I-26 to accommodate more vehicles.
Creates 12-foot inside shoulders for emergency vehicles.
Creates longer, separated exits.

Accommodate growth

The Midlands region's population is projected to grow an average of 70% by 2040. This will create a corresponding increase in traffic that the Carolina Crossroads Project will support. It will benefit the economy of the region by directly and indirectly creating over 1,300 jobs in the region throughout the duration of construction.

Improve safety

The Project will increase safety for the driving public by eliminating multiple weaving movements at and near the I-20/I-26 interchange and reducing long periods of congestion that lead to higher crash rates.

Interchange improvements at Harbison Boulevard at I-26, Bush River Road at I-20, St. Andrews Road at I-26 and Broad River Road at I-20.
Relocation of the I-26 Bush River Road Interchange to a new full-access interchange at Colonial Life Boulevard at I-126.

Project Facts

132 new lane miles
14 widened interstate miles
43 new bridges
7 reconstructed interchanges
2.08 billion dollar investment

FAQs

Did you know? More than 134,000 vehicles travel through the I-20/I-26/I-126 corridor on a daily basis. After construction, the average commuter will save 112 hours of travel time each year.

What is the Carolina Crossroads Project
Carolina Crossroads is a major highway improvement project in South Carolina aimed at reducing congestion and improving safety at the I-20, I-26, and I-126 interchange, commonly known as “malfunction junction.”
Why is this project necessary?
The I-26 interchange, originally constructed in the 1950s, has undergone various improvements over the years. However, it no longer meets the demands of modern traffic. This project aims to enhance mobility, alleviate congestion, and improve safety for both commuters and freight transportation.
When did construction begin, and when will it be completed?
Construction began in November 2021 and is expected to be substantially complete in the mid-2030s.
Has SCDOT identified all of the right-of-way (ROW) properties for the entire project? If not, will they have to acquire more properties?
As the project design advances, specific properties have been identified for right-of-way acquisition across all construction phases. Ongoing design refinements may necessitate additional right-of-way acquisitions.
What design changes are being made?
The project includes new bridges, interchanges, additional lanes, improved ramps, and better traffic flow. As of summer 2025, the final configuration for subphases 3A, 3D, and 3E are still being designed. Phases 4 and 5 are in the early design.

View all FAQs

Photo Gallery

Active bridge, MSE wall, and fill construction along I-126 for Phase 1.

The first segment of girders for the bridge that will take traffic from Colonial Life Boulevard to I-126 WB can be seen above an MSW wall for the future I-26 connection.

Construction crew members helping set a concrete girder. These girders will provide support for the new bridge over I-20 along Broad River Road.

Night crews working to place a concrete girder for the new bridge over I-20 along Broad River Road.

October 2023, the first steel girders were placed to construct the bridge that will take traffic from Colonial Life Boulevard to I-126 WB and I-26 EB/WB.

November 2023, various construction projects are underway along I-126. Looking west toward Spartanburg three new bridges are being built that will have on-and-off-ramps that will connect Colonial Life Boulevard and Bush River and Colonial Life Boulevard and I-26/I-126.

A crew member welding girders and bearing plates together to construct the new bridge over I-20 along Broad River Road. When combined, girders and bearing plates form sturdy, load-bearing structures.

A retaining wall being constructed near the Broad River off-ramp on I-20 to prevent soil erosion in a high-traffic area.

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SCDOT Strategic Plan

The Carolina Crossroads Project is part of the South Carolina Department of Transportation's (SCDOT) 10 Year Plan, which was established with the passing of the Roads Bill by the South Carolina General Assembly in July of 2017. This provides the agency the opportunity to make gradual, but real and significant strides toward bringing the highway system back from decades of neglect. SCDOT's 10 Year Plan focuses on:

Improving the state's roads and bridges
Improving the safety of rural roads and resurfacing aging roadways
Repairing or replacing structurally deficient bridges
Improving key portions of interstates

Visit SCDOT Website