A busy bridge over I-77 in York County will close for a weekend. Here’s what to know
The Gold Hill Road bridge over Interstate 77 will close for a weekend to improve the tricky traffic spot between Fort Mill and Tega Cay.
The bridge will be closed Jan. 15-17, South Carolina Department of Transportation said. Interstate ramps will remain open. A more than 3-mile detour for the weekend closure will use S.C. 160 and Highway 21 Bypass.
Boggs Construction will work on the bridge that transitioned to a diverging diamond traffic pattern as part of ongoing congestion improvements.
The $14.5 million interchange construction project started two years ago and is mostly funded by Pennies for Progress, a York County voter-approved cent sales tax.
When the traffic alignment shifted this fall to its diverging diamond, which temporarily shifts to opposite sides of the road to cut out left turn waits, other problems emerged.
Problems after diverging diamond opens
There were several wrecks and red light runs after the change, SCDOT officials, road experts and Fort Mill Mayor Guynn Savage said in November. Light timing and signage improvements were done.
Roads officials said it also would take drivers time to acclimate. The initial approval for the interchange upgrade had it as the first diverging diamond in South Carolina.
More I-77 interchange improvements
The work comes during an unprecedented stretch of other area I-77 interchange improvements.
▪ A new exit for the Carolina Panthers headquarters in Rock Hill is under construction. State transportation infrastructure bank money will be used for improvements at S.C. 160 in Fort Mill and Cherry/Celanese roads in Rock Hill.
▪ Several key design and planning phases have been approved for the S.C. 160 interchange between Baxter and Kingsley. Initial plans showed a diverging diamond but have since been updated to a larger configuration with flyover bridges. Construction should begin in 2023 and last two years.
▪ Work on the Rock Hill interchange where Cherry and Celanese meet I-77 is next. Two separate diverging diamonds have been discussed but other options are being considered. Construction would likely start in 2026 and last two years. A public meeting about the project is expected next year.
