Traffic clogged for 6 miles on I-77 in SC. 3 vehicles collide near bridge repair

Chester County SC

Traffic is clogged for at least 6 miles on Interstate 77 south between Charlotte and Columbia after a collision that happened while one lane of the road was closed for bridge repairs, officials said.

The area of congestion is near Chester from about Exit 62 south to around Exit 55, said Master Trooper Gary Miller of the S.C. Highway Patrol. Miller advised drivers to seek an alternate route if possible. WSOC-TV also reported miles of traffic in southbound lanes.

The traffic slowed after noon when three commercial vehicles in the southbound lane of traffic collided on I-77 south near mile marker 61, Miller said. Troopers were en route to work the incident, Miller said.

I-77 is the main route between Rock Hill and Columbia. There are more vehicles traveling through Chester County on I-77 each day — at least 50,000, officials say — than the 32,000-plus people living in the county.

It remains unclear when crews will clear the crash.

The I-77 southbound bridge under repair is near mile marker 56, according to the S.C. Department of Transportation and the Richburg Fire Department Facebook page.

DOT crews started repairs Tuesday morning after the highway patrol notified them about damage to the bridge deck early Tuesday morning, DOT spokesperson Kelly Moore said in an email to The Herald.

The DOT said bridge repair is expected to be finished later Tuesday.

This story was originally published February 13, 2024, 1:20 PM.