State transportation officials have been forced to adopt a new Malfuction Junction strategy.

They sought design-build bidders unsuccessfully for the improvement of the interconnecting network of Interstates 20, 26 and 126 west of Columbia, much of it in Lexington County.

Under state law they needed at least 2 competitive bids. They got only 1.

Now they are dividing the long overdue fix into 5 more manageable stages.

Stage 1 will be to improve the intersection of I-126 and Colonial Life Boulevard.

Stage 2 will be to improve the intersection of I-20 and Broad River Road.

Stage 3 will be the intersection of I-20 and I-26 and I-126 and I-26 including St. Andrews Road at I-26  and Bush River Road at I-20.

Stage 4 will be the intersection of I-26 and Harbison Boulevard and relocating the Frontage Road.

Stage 5 will widen I-26 west of St. Andrews Road.

DOT will seek bids for Stages 1 and 2 next spring and summer with construction to begin in 2021.

DOT has said construction of the entire corridor is expected to be completed over the next 8-10 years.

State Sen. Dick Harpootlian, a DOT critic and who represents most of the area involved, told the Chronicle he did not expect it to be completed in his lifetime.