MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCIV) — (Update, Monday, May 14, 5 p.m.)
The S.C. Dept. of Transportation said Monday that the portion of Interstate 526 westbound connecting Daniel Island and Mount Pleasant will be closed up to 48 hours for emergency bridge repair assessments.
The stretch of freeway in questions is between Long Point Road in Mount Pleasant and Seven Farms Drive on Daniel Island. In between is the Wando River Bridge.
DOT officials say they've discovered a broken cable within the bridge structure on the westbound side (leaving Mount Pleasant) of the Wando Bridge.
The 48-hour closure will be for DOT to assess the situation and plan repairs.
DOT officials say they discovered the broken cable Monday morning, but didn't close the bridge until 2 p.m. because they first needed to make sure a closure was necessary.
Rainy weather forecast in the Lowcountry over the next week is not anticipated to prolong the closure.
Eastbound lanes are not currently closed and are not expected to be affected.
Westbound traffic on I-526 is being detoured off the interstate at Long Point Road in Mount Pleasant.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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(Previous coverage)
Mount Pleasant Police say I-526 westbound on the Wando Bridge is closed for emergency repairs.
The emergency closure has been ordered because of a snapped cable inside the bridge structure, according to DOT.
DOT is working on a repair plan, and coordinating detour efforts with local law enforcement, the agency says.
While the road is closed, traffic is being diverted off I-526 onto Long Point Road, MPPD says.
No traffic will be allowed on 526 westbound beyond Long Point Road. Drivers should expect delays in this area.
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