Southbound I-77 drivers passing through Fort Mill and into Rock Hill are down to reduced lanes Wednesday, Sept. 16, as state crews repair damaged bridge decks.
The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) is blocking the two left-hand southbound lanes between mile markers 83 and 81.5, near the Rock Hill exits to Cherry Road and Celanese Road. The closure began at 7 p.m. Tuesday and runs until 2 p.m. Wednesday. Crews closed the same lanes Tuesday, Sept. 15, on the same overnight schedule.
The Post and Courier first reported the latest round of closures. The work has been underway since early August, with crews removing damaged concrete from bridge surfaces and pouring new material.
Morning commuters from Fort Mill or Tega Cay heading into Rock Hill could hit delays while the left lanes remain blocked.
SCDOT spokeswoman Kelly Moore told the Post and Courier the bridge decks had forced repeated emergency shutdowns. "These bridge decks have required regular emergency closures recently, necessitating this additional patching work," Moore said in the Sept. 14 report. She said the planned repairs are meant to reduce the need for future unplanned closures.
What comes next
SCDOT has not published specific dates for future closures beyond this week. Weather permitting, periodic patching is expected to continue at various times through the end of the year, according to the agency.
The northbound lanes on the same stretch could also be targeted for similar work, though no timeline has been set.
Right-hand southbound lanes remain open during the repairs.
