Why South Carolina Is Spending $2.7 Billion on 14 Miles of Highway

South Carolina is spending an estimated $2.69 billion to rebuild 14 miles of highway around Columbia. The Carolina Crossroads project covers seven interchanges and 43 new bridges along I-20, I-26, and I-126, a corridor that carries more than 134,000 vehicles a day. At Malfunction Junction, the old cloverleaf squeezes merging and exiting traffic into the same short stretch. I drive through the corridor and use diagrams to show how the proposed turbine interchange would replace the loops with sweeping ramps and move much of that weaving onto parallel roads. The video follows the work from the new Colonial Life Boulevard interchange and Broad River Road’s diverging diamond to the Saluda River bridges and the planned exit onto I-126, where downtown drivers will branch right and pass beneath I-26. SCDOT estimates the average commuter could save 112 hours a year. The project is expected to be substantially complete in the mid-2030s. Fair Use Disclaimer: This video contains copyrighted material used under the guidelines of fair use. The purpose of this video is to tell a story, and the content is transformative in nature. It is used for educational purposes, with the intention to inform and entertain viewers. All rights to the copyrighted material are retained by the respective owners. If you believe your work has been used in a way that does not fall under fair use, please contact me directly for resolution by emailing me at BuildCoreMedia@gmail.com!