‘THEY ARE DANGEROUS!’: We asked your least favorite roads in the Midlands, and you didn’t hold back

We asked, you answered.

Traffic challenges are seemingly a way of life in the Midlands, where population growth — nearly 720,000 people live in Richland and Lexington counties combined, per census data, an increase from a combined population of 648,000 in 2010 — has continued to stuff cars onto the roadways and create shifts in traffic patterns.

On May 9, The State published a story asking readers to share what they think are some of the worst roads in the Midlands. Readers could share concerns about heavy traffic on a given road, or they could have a beef with the conditions of the roads themselves.

From commercial retail thoroughfares to onetime quiet country roads that have now become crowded to stretches of the local interstate system and beyond, there seems to be no shortage of rant-worthy streets around here.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, multiple respondents to The State’s poll listed Malfunction Junction — the tangle just north of Columbia where Interstates 26 and 20 precariously meet — as a trouble spot.

“There’s construction on I-26 almost nonstop across the entire state,” respondent Kyle Moores said. “Some swaths seem like they’re permanently down to one lane. Malfunction Junction (where I-26 & I-20 meet in Columbia) is notorious for constant accidents.”

And there certainly was some wild hyperbole in some of the complaints about Malfunction Junction, with one anonymous poll participant implying that the original planners of the vehicular confluence should be arrested.

But those who have long seethed in frustration at the calamity of Malfunction Junction will get some relief in the years to come. Carolina Crossroads, the largest infrastructure construction project in state history, will rebuild and improve 14 miles of road at the junctions of Interstate 26, Interstate 126 and Interstate 20. The $2 billion project will be completed in five phases and could take until 2029 to complete. More than 134,000 cars per day travel through the junction, per state data.

Another stretch of road that raised respondents’ ire was Bush River Road in Columbia, which drew complaints about both traffic and road conditions. It’s a road that stretches from Richland County to Lexington County and includes scores of commercial businesses, from the Dutch Square Center mall and its movie theater to local restaurant favorites such as Real Mexico.

“There are too many potholes, too many idiot drivers trying to get ahead at the Outlet Pointe (Boulevard) intersection, and a tendency to flood during heavy rains,” one anonymous responder added. “This road carries too much traffic.”

Per S.C. Department of Transportation traffic count data, about 22,000 cars per day travel down Bush River Road on the Dutch Square mall end, and about 17,000 cars per day travel down the stretch near Outlet Pointe Boulevard.

Over in Lexington County, multiple readers expressed frustration with parts of Old Cherokee Road. That’s one that stretches from the western part of the county all the way into the commercial parts of the town. It includes everything from the massive Mt. Horeb Methodist Church to schools such as New Providence Elementary to numerous medical offices to scores of residential subdivisions.

“The traffic is horrible,” respondent Amelia Ruple said. “Potholes are patched, but reappear. Too many homes, schools, buildings.”

Respondent Lauren Blackwell also pointed out Old Cherokee Road and said there are bad patches that cause drivers to “bounce all the way down” the thoroughfare, and that traffic on the road is frequently backed up.

“This road makes me want to pull my eyelashes out individually,” Blackwell said.

Largely a two-lane road, about 14,000 cars per day travel down Old Cherokee near Old Chapin Road, per state statistics. About 11,000 cars per day go down the stretch of Old Cherokee near Mt. Horeb church.

Ruple also added that Highway 378 between the area near downtown Lexington and I-20 is a “nightmare for traffic.” Indeed, that is a heavily trafficked road that can be maddening to commuters at rush hour.

About 35,000 cars pass down 378 each day near the Lexington Walmart, and 39,000 vehicles travel down the stretch near the Target shopping center daily. The section of 378 near I-20, close to a Chick-fil-A restaurant, sees more than 31,000 cars per day, according to Department of Transportation stats.

One anonymous poll respondent offered that Forest Drive in Forest Acres can be a tough stretch, particularly during high-traffic parts of the day.

“Between schools, restaurants, and neighborhoods, avoid this area at lunch or during rush hour,” they said.

About 26,000 cars per day go down Forest Drive between North Beltline Boulevard and North Trenholm Road, and about 28,000 cars per day travel down Forest from North Trenholm to I-77.

And there was one anonymous respondent to The State’s roads callout who said troublesome thoroughfares in the Midlands were just too voluminous to mention.

“THEY ARE DANGEROUS!!!” the respondent said, adding, simply, “Jesus.”