DOT: I-85 Rehab Project Starting Again in Spartanburg County

Commuters may soon breathe a sigh of relief and some will blow angry steam.

10 miles of Interstate 85 in Spartanburg County will get a needed face lift, after all. You may remember that the original project was scrapped this spring, but now it is back with a bigger and more expensive fix.

It’s a cost of more than $51 million dollars, but this time the DOT is expecting better results when the new project launches this winter into the spring.

When the original contractor dug up asphalt this spring, they found underlying layers were in rough shape. Now, a brand new contractor, Sloan Construction, is coming in with plans to dig out up to ten inches of asphalt along 10 miles. It’ll be replaced with new asphalt and then nearly two inches more on top.

The project stretches from exit 56 to 67 on north and south bound lanes.

The project, itself, is both necessary and controversial according to lawmakers like Representative Phyllis Henderson who believes it’s an indication of a bigger problem. Henderson said instead of finding more long term fixes, we’re trying to rehab projects that are only becoming more costly.

DOT Engineer Todd Carroll said they are simply trying to deal with the hands they are being dealt.

“We have to watch all of our roads out there, but we are certainly doing the best we can and we’ll stay on top of it,” said Carroll.

The DOT said the two year project is actually shorter than initially expected and they are looking forward to the finished product.

Here’s the lane closures you can expect this winter:

• Milepost 56.1 to milepost 59.8 may have single lane closures northbound and southbound Monday to Thursday nights from 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM the next morning and a continuous single lane closure from Friday at 8:00 PM to Monday at 6:00 AM.

• Milepost 56.1 to milepost 59.8 may have dual lane closures northbound and southbound Monday to Thursday nights from 11:00 PM to 5:00 AM the next morning, on Friday night from 12:00AM to 6:00AM Saturday morning, on Saturday night 11:00 PM to 8:00 AM Sunday morning, and on Sunday night from 11:00 PM to 5:00 AM Monday morning.

• Milepost 59.8 to milepost 67.8 may have single lane closures Monday and Tuesday nights from 7:00 PM to 7:00 AM the next morning. A single lane closure is also allowed from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM on Monday and Tuesday as well.

• Milepost 59.8 to milepost 67.8 may have single lane closures Wednesday and Thursday nights from 7:00 PM to 7:00 AM the next morning. A single lane closure is also allowed from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon on Wednesday and Thursday as well.

• Milepost 59.8 to 67.8 may have a single lane closure Friday night from 7:00 PM northbound or 8:00 PM southbound until 7:00 AM Monday morning northbound and 6:00 AM Monday morning southbound.

• Milepost 59.8 to 67.8 may have dual lane closures Monday to Wednesday nights from 10:00 PM northbound and southbound until 5:00 AM southbound and 6:00 AM northbound the next morning

• Milepost 59.8 to 67.8 may have southbound dual lane closures Thursday night from 10:00 PM until 5:00 AM the next morning.

• Milepost 59.8 to 67.8 may have southbound dual lane closures Friday night from 11:00 PM until 6:00 AM the next morning.

• Milepost 59.8 to 67.8 may have southbound dual lane closures Saturday night from 10:00 PM until 9:00 AM the next morning.

• Milepost 59.8 to 67.8 may have southbound dual lane closures Sunday night from 10:00 PM until 5:00 AM the next morning.

• Milepost 59.8 to 67.8 may have northbound dual lane closures Thursday night from 11:00 PM until 6:00 AM the next morning.

• Milepost 59.8 to 67.8 may have northbound dual lane closures Friday night from 11:00 PM until 7:00 AM the next morning.

• Milepost 59.8 to 67.8 may have northbound dual lane closures Saturday night from 10:00 PM until 9:00 AM the next morning.

So please be prepared for slow traveling, potential traffic backups, lane shifts and closures, and yes it is annoying to deal with construction especially with the way some people drive but let’s all try to stay calm and get through this winter. 

Article brought to you by Josh Ferguson.