ROCK HILL, S.C. — Ahead of the construction project's original Monday deadline, two lanes on the new Interstate 77 southbound bridge over the Catawba River opened Friday afternoon.
"Friday afternoon we expect to move the two southbound lanes over into the southbound [bridge]," South Carolina Department of Transportation Deputy Secretary for Engineering Leland Colvin told WCNC Charlotte Wednesday. "Then starting Saturday afternoon, we'll open up all four lanes in the northbound, and then sometime midday Sunday we'll have all for lanes open in the southbound direction."
Shortly after 12 p.m. Friday, the South Carolina State Highway Patrol lead drivers slowly through the new lanes.
The SC DOT will hold a briefing Friday at 3 p.m.
Crews have been working 24 hours a day since construction of the new bridge began on May 6. The contactor had until Monday, May 24 to finish the project.
Built in the 1970s, the I-77 southbound bridge deck over the Catawba River had shown signs of deterioration, according to SC DOT.
While the new bridge was being built, southbound traffic had been diverted into two of the four lanes on the northbound bridge. Officials had advised drivers to seek alternate routes to avoid any potential traffic backups.
During the construction project, the Fort Mill School District rerouted some school buses.
Seven river access points were also closed including the Fort Mill River Access, Baxter Neighborhood Access, Mason's Bend Access, Riverwalk Access, Westminster Park Access, Camp Canaan Access, and River Park Access.
With work still continuing through the weekend, it was not immediately known when the river access points would reopen.