The busy interstate had been closed for more than a week, causing delays and motorist headaches while crews checked 13 bridges crossing streams and swamps in the middle part of the state. The closing forced drivers to take an almost 170-mile detour to the state capitol of Columbia instead of the normal 75-mile drive along the interstate from Interstate 26 to Interstate 20. In recent days the detour has resulted in traffic delays on another interstate southeast of Columbia, the state capital city flooded in many parts by the days of rain. The Transportation Department also said that, beginning Monday, it will begin removing debris from four counties hard-hit by the storm, Crews planned to be out in Georgetown and Horry counties on the coast and in Lexington, Richland and Sumter counties in the Midlands near the state capitol of Columbia.