By Sonya Stevens
sstevens@abcnews4.com
NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) - After dealing with orange cones and barriers for three years, some drivers on Interstate 26 will get some much needed relief starting Sunday.
Earl Capps, communications specialist for U.S. Group, Inc., says they opened up the fourth lane of westbound last weekend. They'll open up the fourth eastbound lane plus all the ramps we have had closed for construction of the interchanges of Aviation and Remount.
Kevin Stokes works close to the roadwork and says it has made the commute a little challenging.
"Well, you definitely get a lot of people who don't realize where to make the little back loop so they take this side road at about 10 miles per hour and try to turn off of it everywhere they can. So yeah, it will be nice to get back on the interstate."
William Beers is another driver anxious for the construction to end. He says that he is excited for the work to be finished so he can get to and from work and his house without having to divert too many different ways.
The stretch of I-26 under construction has an average of 140, 000 cars a day. The fourth westbound lane was opened up last weekend, and Capps says that he has already noticed a difference.
He says that he watched Monday evening and it was the first time in 15 years that there was no rush hour parking lot. Traffic was flowing and heading home. He is expecting similar results Monday morning
The crews will be working over the weekend to complete the project, so be sure to use extra caution. By sunrise Sunday morning all the lanes and exits will be re-opened, which should make it pretty smooth going for Monday.
