As part of a larger project team led by HDR, Inc., STV traffic, roadway and structural engineers are working with the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) to untangle the Interstate 20/26/126 interchanges, commonly referred to as “malfunction junction.” The interchange is often congested due to the complex movements motorists have to make to navigate through the closely spaced adjacent interchanges.

Located in the heart of South Carolina, the interchange serves local commuters in the nearby state capital of Columbia and is a vital link for both travelers and cargo headed from Lowcountry ports and coastal destinations to Upstate manufacturing centers. The program, known as “Carolina Crossroads,” strives to improve both local and regional mobility by reducing congestion and accommodating future growth while also improving safety and providing better roadway links.

STV has been providing planning, analysis and engineering services to help identify and evaluate improvement alternatives throughout a study area located in Richland and Lexington counties. The efforts were part of the development of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) that served as the basis for the Final Environmental Impact Statement and accompanying Record of Decision that has permitted the estimated $1.5 billion project to go forward.