Half of I-77 bridge in York County to close for 18 days in May. What you need to know
Travel on York County’s busiest road is expected to be even more congested in May, as South Carolina officials plan to close half of the Interstate 77 bridge in York County between Rock Hill and the North Carolina state line.
The southbound bridge of I-77 over the Catawba River between Sutton Road and Cherry Road/CelaneseRoad will be completely closed from May 6 through May 24 for extensive repairs to the bridge deck, S.C. Department of Transportation officials said.
Not only will half of the highway be closed, but several exit and entrance ramps that drivers normally use to get on and off I-77 at Exits 82 and Exit 83 will be closed during the construction.
All traffic in both directions will use the northbound bridge for those three weeks, officials said. Detours will merge southbound traffic onto the northbound bridge.
Half of the four lanes of the northbound bridge will be used for southbound traffic, while the other two lanes will continue to handle northbound traffic, DOT officials said. Southbound traffic will cross over the highway median and back to the southbound interstate highway travel on the south side of the bridge.
Additionally, the northbound entrance ramps at Exit 82 that feed I-77 from Celanese Road and Cherry Road will be closed during the bridge repair. That means drivers in Rock Hill who want to get on I-77 will have to do so at Exit 79 or points south, or use U.S. 21 to cross the Catawba River, then enter I-77 at Exit 85 or other points north toward North Carolina.
Delays, congestion expected
The effects of the repair work and closures are expected to be so severe that transportation and emergency officials are already asking drivers and commuters to plan for traffic and even alter work schedules or work from home if possible.
DOT officials concede that for commuters, the 18 days will be difficult for people to get between Charlotte and Rock Hill. Additionally, the feeder roads to I-77 such as Celanese Road and Cherry Road will have increased traffic.
Friday morning, Leland Colvin, deputy director of engineering for DOT, and other transportation officials hosted a virtual news conference for media to hear details about the project.
“We expect significant congestion and significant delays,” Colvin said. “People can expect backups.”
Congestion is expected to be so heavy that DOT officials are asking people who don’t need to use I-77 to stay off that highway during construction. The traffic will be even worse during morning and afternoon rush hours, Colvin said.
“We are asking people to avoid the area if possible,” Colvin said during the news conference.
Construction work is planned for 24 hours a day including weekends to get the job done as quickly as possible, Colvin said.
I-77 and U.S. 21 are the main routes across the river for most of the traffic heading between South Carolina and North Carolina. At least 121,000 vehicles use the bridge during weekdays, Colvin said.
The Buster Boyd Bridge crosses Lake Wylie on SC. 49 and N.C. 49 in western York County and western Mecklenburg County. Drivers also can cross into North Carolina on U.S. 521 in Lancaster County.
DOT is halting ongoing road work on U.S. 21 during the May construction period because of the expected increased traffic on U.S. 21 between Cherry Road and northern York County, Colvin said.
“All lanes on U.S. 21 will be open the entire time,” Colvin said.
DOT and York County officials started putting up signs, detour warnings, and other markers Friday a month before the closure so that motorists can plan for the expected delays, detours and traffic changes.
Emergency agencies, law enforcement prepare
Chuck Haynes, York County Emergency Management director, said York County agencies know about the closure and are planning for safety concerns.
“We are working to ensure that if there is any type of emergency, we will be able to get responders where they need to go,” Haynes said.
Yet Haynes acknowledged that the May construction and detour period will be difficult for drivers.
I-77 traffic could be affected as far north as I-485 in Mecklenburg County and south to S.C. 5 in York County, officials said.
Darren Player, Lancaster County Emergency Management director, said Lancaster County officials expect impacts as commuters seek alternate routes to avoid I-77.
“At this time, no one really knows what the public will do or the routes they may move to take,” Player said. ”Traffic may move into our county in an effort to miss the I-77 slowdowns in the morning and afternoon rush hours. Needless to say, this could cause a tremendous increase in traffic through the county.”
DOT officials said five full-time police officers from several agencies will be assigned to work safety on the bridge during the time of construction.
Master Trooper Gary Miller of the S.C. Highway Patrol said troopers will be working during the closure period on I-77 and other roads.
Why close the bridge?
S.C. DOT officials said the southbound bridge is 48 years old. Periodic repairs on the bridge deck have been done in the past 10 years, but the deck now requires a lasting fix.
“This is a a permanent improvement,” said Colvin, the DOT engineer.
Colvin said the northbound bridge is in better shape but will eventually need repairs.
This story was originally published April 2, 2021 at 10:27 AM.
