Interstate 85 is closed in South Carolina in both directions since earlier today, Thursday, January 2, 2025 after a bomb threat was declared pertaining to a suspicious tractor trailer truck that was stopped by law enforcement officers.
Interstate 85 Closed in South Carolina January 2025: Travel Alert
I-85 near mile marker 44 is temporarily closed out of an abundance of caution due to a bomb threat issued during a routine traffic stop this afternoon by SC Transport Police. SCDOT and state law enforcement are on the scene, and normal I-85 traffic will resume once the tractor trailer is swept and cleared by SLED’s bomb squad.
— Gov. Henry McMaster (@henrymcmaster) January 2, 2025
Multiple law enforcement agencies have been investigating this incident, which has caused massive congestion of vehicles on surrounding roadways.
The collection of tolls has been temporarily suspended on Interstate 185 — which is also known as the Southern Connector — to help keep traffic flowing.
The incident occurred near the interchange of Interstate 85 and United States Highway 25 in southwestern Greenville. This section of Interstate 85 is a major highway between Greenville and Atlanta.
The bomb threat was issued only one day after a security incident occurred within the city of New Orleans. At least 15 people were killed and dozens of people were injured by a vehicle that plowed into a crowd on Bourbon Street and Canal Street in the French Quarter during the early morning hours.
Meanwhile — in an unrelated incident — an explosive was detonated inside of a truck in front of Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas yesterday, Wednesday, January 1, 2025. At least one person — who was the only person inside of the vehicle — was killed in that incident from a self-inflicted gunshot wound; while a minimum of seven other people reportedly suffered from minor injuries.
Final Boarding Call
No flights were affected by this incident, which is still ongoing at the time this article was written; and no fatalities or injuries were reported…
…but if you do plan on traveling on Interstate 85 near the section that is closed, please drive carefully and get to your destination as safely and as quickly as possible.
All photographs ©2017 by Brian Cohen.
