Don N. Holt Bridge Incident: Rescued Jumper, Prolonged I-526 Shutdown, Traffic Interruptions in Charleston, SC

 Interstate 526 close to the Don Holt Bridge experienced closures for a considerable period on Thursday, December 18, due to an ongoing situation involving law enforcement that commenced in the early morning and resulted in substantial traffic issues throughout the Charleston area.

The South Carolina Department of Transportation reported that all lanes on I-526 were blocked in both directions between Exit 20 at Virginia Avenue and Exit 23 at Clements Ferry Road. This closure was ordered by the North Charleston Police Department at around 3:30 a.m. By early afternoon, the interstate had been shut down for over nine hours.

Law enforcement has released minimal information to the public, referring to the closure as related to an "incident." Live maps from the DOT noted an "obstruction on the roadway." Officials have indicated that the situation continued to develop and was active throughout the day.

During the morning rush hour, drivers faced significant delays as traffic was redirected onto local streets in North Charleston, the Charleston peninsula, and Mount Pleasant. The increased traffic congestion led to several secondary accidents, according to data from the DOT, with gridlock continuing into the afternoon.

A noticeable presence of law enforcement and emergency responders was maintained near the Don Holt Bridge during the morning hours. North Charleston Police affirmed they would share further information when it was suitable and encouraged the public to check for updates on the department's CrimeWatch platform.

By mid-morning, Lt. Anthony J. King from the North Charleston Police Department mentioned that the situation was still unfolding. Officials had not disclosed the exact nature of the incident at that point.

Later in the day, an elected representative from Charleston County voiced strong criticism regarding the management of the situation, pointing out significant effects on public safety and business operations. The representative indicated that emergency services, freight traffic associated with the port, as well as normal police and medical responses, experienced delays lasting several hours due to the closure.

The official described that the incident came to an end after nearly 11 hours when the individual involved surrendered to law enforcement. Authorities have not provided additional details regarding the individual or the conclusion of the situation.

As traffic continued to build up throughout the area, officials advised drivers to look for alternative routes and prepare for prolonged delays. Law enforcement has not yet specified when the affected segment of I-526 will reopen completely.

This incident highlights the extensive consequences of significant roadway closures in the Lowcountry, especially during busy travel periods. Further information is anticipated as authorities release more details.