Carolina Crossroads receives key federal permit.

The Carolina Crossroads project has received a federal permit that will allow all phases of the ambitious reconstruction of a crowded Columbia corridor to move forward.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Monday granted the S.C. Department of Transportation the permit that will enable all construction phases to proceed. The estimated $1.6 billion project is reconfiguring the intersection of interstates 20, 26 and 126 in Columbia, a gridlock-prone area known as Malfunction Junction.

The 15-year permit is the last major federal approval for the five-phase construction, according to a news release from SCDOT. Phases 1 and 2 are scheduled to begin next year, with the project slated for completion in 2029.

"We appreciate theU.S.Army Corps of Engineers' thorough and expert work on this project and its commitment to working with all stakeholders involved to significantly improvethe mobility and safety of our state's citizens," S.C. Transportation Secretary Christy Hall said in the release. "Our ability to obtain the permit in just nine months is a testament to theCorps'dedicated staff members and the strong working relationship we have with them."

The project will reconstruct seven interchanges, including the current...