Columbia drivers say traffic on Forum Boulevard has worsened

The new roundabout at the Scott Boulevard and Vawter School Road in Columbia opened Tuesday morning, easing some traffic.

But the bridge work continues, leaving a part of Scott Boulevard still shut down.

Columbia drivers said the traffic on Forum Boulevard and Chapel Hill Road is once again unbearable.

After receiving calls and emails from viewers, ABC 17’s Jillian Fertig drove down Forum Boulevard at peak traffic time, around 5:30 p.m.

Fertig timed how long it took to drive from the Stadium and Forum Boulevard intersection to the Wilson’s fitness on Forum, roughly one mile.

It took eight and a half minutes and the cars kept stacking up.

Columbia Public Works took away traffic controls for the area a little over a week ago. That’s when officers controlled traffic at Chapel Hill and no left turns were allowed into the Wilson’s fitness center between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.

“Our original plan was we’d stop June 5th for a week and evaluate and see how things went,” said Steve Sapp with Columbia Public Works. “Our traffic managers have been watching that. We haven’t made a decision yet as to whether we can or will re-institute those.”

Sapp said the project is on time and the bridge is set to open August 8. Until then, the Public Works department said it’s doing everything it can.

“We’re trying to improve our roads, and to improve them, this is some of the headaches we have to put up with, unfortunately,” Sapp said.

In the meantime, drivers are encouraged to allow extra time into their schedules, especially during peak traffic times.

Sapp said they will make a decision in the next few days whether they will re-implement the traffic controls.