By Town of Mount Pleasant, Charleston County and City of Charleston Public Information Officers
MOUNT PLEASANT, SC (May 18, 2018) – In anticipation of SCDOT’s press conference, Mount Pleasant, Charleston County and Charleston public information officers met today at the Mount Pleasant Town Hall Municipal EOC to support public information efforts in the wake of the Wando River Bridge closure.
Lane closures on I-526, near the approaches to the cross-overs, will be intermittent today through Sunday, May 20. The plan is to open the Wando River Bridge eastbound lanes for two-way traffic Sunday afternoon, in preparation for the commute on Monday, May 21. Once implemented, the plan will call for the deployment of resources to include a contingent of 26 state troopers and tow trucks strategically deployed along I-526. All vehicles, including trucks, will be allowed.
SCDOT emphasizes the need for motorists to choose their own travel route. The Wando River Bridge two-way traffic plan is another option to supplement existing traffic management strategies. Messaging boards will alert motorist to proper driving precautions as they near the cross-overs.
Secretary of Transportation Christy Hall, Deputy Secretary for Engineering Leland Colvin, and Traffic Engineering Director Rob Perry discussed the two-way traffic plan at today’s news conference at the agency’s District Headquarters in North Charleston. They urged motorist to adopt the following precautions:
- Two-way traffic speeds on the eastbound bridge will be reduced and posted at 45 miles per hour. This is the same “safe speed limit” used when traveling through work zones.
- The Wando Bridge area is an actual work zone while repairs are on-going, so “Let ‘em Work, Let ‘em Live” for their safety and yours.
- Plan your trips to allow for extra travel time. Additional traffic cameras have temporarily been added to the area to help drivers select the best routes.
- SCDOT’s 511 app can provide route information and views from the traffic cameras.
- The usual rules of the road apply even more so during two-way traffic: Don’t text while driving and follow the speed limits.
- SCDOT has provided more SHEP (Motorist Assistance Operators) in the detour areas.
- State and local law enforcement agencies are providing more officers to handle traffic, including the manual operation of traffic signals at key intersections to adjust timing with the flow of traffic.
For more information on the Wando River Bridge closure, visit SCDOT online on Facebook and Twitter. Maps and traffic count information can be found on the SCDOT’s website at www.scdot.org. Real time traffic information can be found by downloading their travel app.
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