Columbia, South Carolina – Early next year, the City of Columbia will start fixing the structure of the Lady Street Parking Deck. This is the first phase in a larger, multi-year plan to make public parking better across downtown. The deck, which is located at 1100 Lady Street, is set to start work in January 2026 and should take approximately three months to finish.
The Lady Street project starts Phase 1 of the city’s Capital Improvement Plan. The goal of this phase is to fix up old parking decks and make them more durable. Crews will fix a number of structural issues, such as broken concrete, cracks in the surface, and steel reinforcement that is not covered.
The outdated joint sealant will be taken out and replaced, and new expansion joints will be put in to help keep moisture and temperature variations from causing more damage in the future.
City officials believe these fixes are needed to keep people safe and prevent the situation from getting worse. Water can get into concrete that isn’t very strong and get to the steel that holds it together. If the steel rusts and expands, it can cause the concrete to break apart, which will make the structure weaker if it isn’t fixed.
Fixing these problems early can help prevent having to make bigger and more expensive repairs later.
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The city plans to make visible upgrades to its parking infrastructure in addition to structural renovations. City-owned decks will get new security cameras, better lighting, a deep clean, and a new coat of paint. The goal of these improvements is to make it easier for people who park downtown to see, feel safe, and have a better experience overall.
One parking deck at a time will be fixed up to keep problems to a minimum. The deck’s public and visitor parking will be closed for around 12 weeks starting in January while the Lady Street works are ongoing. During that time, monthly parking arrangements will also change. Parking Services has already gotten in touch with people who have reserved spots to work out other options and reduce inconvenience.
There will be clear signs up before and during construction to warn vehicles and show them where to park nearby. The city wants people who park in downtown to look at the parking map on its website to prepare ahead.
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After the Lady Street deck, the Taylor Street, Arsenal Hill, and Sumter Street parking decks will all get Phase 1 renovations. The work on such projects will be done in stages so that some areas can still be accessed.
City leaders said the parking enhancements are part of a long-term redevelopment strategy supported by a parking tax increase passed by City Council in late 2024 and effective in March 2025. The goal is to make the parking system safer, more reliable, and easier to use so that downtown Columbia can keep growing.
To stay informed on project updates, deck reopening dates, and parking alternatives, please visit: https://parking.columbiasc.gov/
