SCDOT Fires Contractor After I-26 Lane Closure Delay

Safety Compliance Solutions LLC issued a formal apology to Lowcountry drivers and confirmed that personnel actions were taken following an internal review after an overnight lane closure on Interstate 26 stretched deep into the morning rush hour on Sept. 29.

The operational breakdown began during routine bridge repairs near mile marker 213, turning a standard morning drive for thousands of commuters crawling inward from Summerville into a grueling nearly three-hour ordeal.

Equipment Failure Causes Morning Commute Delays

While the South Carolina Department of Transportation expected two eastbound lanes to reopen by 4:30 a.m., the necessary traffic-control equipment remained planted across the highway until 7:45 a.m.

John Atkins, owner of Safety Compliance Solutions, acknowledged the failure in a public statement. “Our crew did not clear the lanes on time, and the closure extended into the morning commute,” Atkins said, offering an apology to affected motorists, many of whom he noted are neighbors, friends, and families.

Internal Review and Vendor Termination

According to Atkins, internal operating procedures dictate that every crew must be tracked against scheduled reopening targets. He stated that the company reviewed the timeline of that night against those internal benchmarks and executed personnel actions consistent with company standards.

The statement did not elaborate on the specific root cause of the delay, whether established protocols were actually followed on the ground, or what exact disciplinary measures were taken against the workers involved.

SCDOT Terminates Contractor for Failure to Perform

State transportation officials moved swiftly in the wake of the incident. In an Oct. 6 letter directed to Lowcountry legislative delegations, Transportation Secretary Justin Powell outlined the state’s response.

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SCDOT completed its bridge repairs and attempted to reach the traffic-control contractor repeatedly to clear the work zone. While removal operations should have kicked off around 4 a.m., the contractor failed to respond until approximately 7 a.m.

Consequently, SCDOT notified the contractor that it was terminated for failure to perform, bringing in alternative contractors to manage traffic control moving forward.

FOIA Records Reveal Overnight Closure Invoice

Public records obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request filed Oct. 6 shed light on the administrative paper trail behind the project. Those documents included a $2,500 invoice submitted by Safety Compliance Solutions for an overnight dual-lane closure on Sept. 28, covering the hours of 11 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.

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However, the released records do not indicate whether the state ultimately paid that invoice or levied financial penalties against the vendor.

Revised Protocols and Ongoing Oversight

In response to the failure, SCDOT instituted revised protocols mandating that multiple contractor staff members remain stationed inside active work zones throughout the duration of maintenance projects. This adjustment aims to guarantee that equipment can be hauled away promptly the moment construction concludes, preventing future bottlenecks.

Safety Compliance Solutions stated it is cooperating fully with SCDOT, though the company’s public statements did not address whether it retains other active contracts with the state transportation department.