Officials announce road closures due to Hurricane Helene

COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) – As Hurricane Helene heads toward South Carolina, various officials from across the Midlands have announced road closures due to flooding.

City of Columbia

The city of Columbia announced this on Thursday around noon Portions of Whaley Street and Main Street are closed because a significant amount of rain has accumulated.

Whaley Street is closed from Assembly Street to Sumter Street, and Main Street is closed from Catawba Street to Whaley Street.

The Columbia-Richland Fire Department also reported that the intersection of Main Street and Whaley Street was flooded.

WIS News 10 crews also picked up a large amount of rainwater the intersection of Blossom Street and Huger Streetsee below.

At approximately 12:45 p.m., the Columbia Police Department (CPD) said traffic was being detoured at that intersection due to severe flooding. Westbound traffic on Blossom heading toward Cayce will be detoured to Gervais Street.

Around 1:30 p.m., South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) officials said. Blossom Street Bridge is closed due to flooding. Crews are working to reopen the road, but SCDOT said drivers should expect delays.

The Richland County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD) has closed some roads due to flooding:

-All lanes are closed near the 10000 block of Two Notch Road and the 6000 block of Trenholm

-Trenholm near O’Neil is closed due to flooding.

– The fire department at Lowe’s on Two Notch is also flooded

-Shakespeare Road – flooded

-Two Notch on Oakcrest Dr and the adjacent railroad are closed.

-N Trenholm at Forest Dr is flooded.

The Intersection of Key Road and Market Streetnext to Williams-Brice Stadium, flooding also occurred on Thursday. The Columbia-Richland Fire Department said a driver had to be rescued from his vehicle after it became stuck in floodwaters on Key Road.

The South Carolina Department of Transportation is closed Forest Drive in the area of ​​the bridge over Gills Creek in Richland County due to rising water levels. The bridge will reopen when the water falls to a safe level. Updates will be posted on the SCDOT website and social media. SCDOT recommends drivers stay indoors if possible during the storm. If travel is necessary, slow down and pay attention to signs and crews. Remember never to drive through standing water.

The city said it is sending teams to monitor the closures and eventually reopen the streets.

The following intersections are at risk of flooding:

• Main and Whaley
• Gervais and Laurens
• Blossom and Henderson
• Blossom and saluda
• Harden and Santee
• Monroe and Maple
• Two Notch and Read
• Wheat and Amherst
• Adger and Devine
• Wheat and summer
• Wheat and Pickens
• Heyward and Ravenel
• Pickens between wheat and green
• Barnwell and Pendleton
• Harden and read
• Harden and Calhoun
• Franklin and Marion
• Franklin and Sumter
• Columbia College and N. Main
• Bull and Laurel

Columbia officials encourage residents to avoid these areas during and immediately after weather events involving heavy rain.

Severe weather in the area has caused several roads to be closed. This means that all buses will run late this afternoon. We appreciate your patience as our student transportation specialists safely navigate our communities. We encourage our parents, student riders and staff to exercise caution and caution when driving this afternoon.”

This story is developing. Check back here for updates.

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