Chronicle readers are concerned about the lane shifting on Interstate 20.

They feel construction and lane shifts are making I-20 between SC 6 and US 378 even more dangerous.

Pete Poore of the SC Department of Transportation said the shift lets the contractor access eastbound I-20 to rebuild existing lanes in this narrow section.

“The final configuration will have 3 new concrete lanes in each direction separated by the recently constructed permanent concrete barrier wall,” he said.

In a year, the shift will be reversed so that the westbound lanes can be rebuilt.

When completed, 6 lanes – 3 east and 3 west – will be concrete with a permanent barrier in the middle.

DOT planners met with emergency medical service, highway patrol and other emergency responders in setting up the widening, Poore said. The contractor works day and night shifts.

“They will remove the outside temporary barrier wall to access the project to assist vehicles involved in accidents,” he said.

Eastbound rush hour commuters are having problems merging into I-20 from US 1 or SC 6. But Poore said additional markers and signs were adjusted at the US 1 ramp to help with this temporary condition.

“The ramps do meet design requirements and our traffic engineers will continue to monitor these for adjustments,” he said.

Due to narrow lanes, east bound wide-load vehicles must exit I-20 at Longs Pond Road near Michelin.

Poore said that once widening is complete, these restrictions will be removed.