An early morning crash on Thursday has led to the closure of all eastbound lanes on Interstate 26 near Aviation Avenue, resulting in an 11-mile traffic jam.
The North Charleston Police Department, assisting the Highway Patrol, is responding to the incident, which involves a significant fuel spill of nearly 100 gallons.
🚨 Traffic Alert 🚨 Charleston County. All lanes eastbound on I-26 at the 211 mile marker are shutdown due to a collision. Traffic is being rerouted off the Aviation Ave exit then back on I-26. Please avoid the area and use alternate routes if possible. pic.twitter.com/SmPAVHBIFY
— Trooper Nick SCHP (@SCHP_Troop6) February 22, 2024
Environmental cleanup specialists from Hepaco have been deployed to manage the spill, with additional support from a sand truck to contain the situation. As of 7:15 a.m., traffic is being diverted around the crash site, with Trooper Nick Pye of the South Carolina Highway Patrol advising motorists to exit at Aviation Avenue and re-enter I-26 to bypass the obstruction.
The disruption has severely impacted travel times, with journeys from Summerville to downtown now exceeding three hours under current conditions. Authorities are recommending Rivers Avenue, Dorchester Road, or Highway 61 as alternative routes and are warning drivers to anticipate significant delays throughout the area.
