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The state plans to replace the US 1 bridge over I-20 at a cost of $66 million.

Construction is expected to start in late summer or early fall of 2020 and could take 2 to 3 years.

SC Department of Transportation officials have talked with US 1 property owners to assure them they will do everything they can to prevent interrupting business or inconveniencing customers, project engineer Kate Drafts said.

Around the same time, DOT will start work on a longer and more costly project, fixing problems at Malfunction Junction where I-20 and I-26 come together in Lexington County.

Drafts said that unlike many projects, US 1 will be different with 3 to 5 design engineering teams invited to make proposals.

She said they are looking for innovative approaches to solve problems in re-routing traffic, controlling costs and making the least negative impact on businesses.

Teams will have limits on what they can propose and the winner’s proposal will be graded on factors such as cost and local effect.

If the bridge is built on the south side of US 1, it may have the least negative effect on the 3 gas stations on the south side of the highway. If on the north side, it could impact 4 Oaks Farm and other businesses on that side of US 1.

By replacing it, the current bridge will be open to traffic throughout the construction, Drafts said.

“I live in Lexington and commute to Columbia,” she said. “I know what it’s like.”