COLUMBIA, S.C. — The City of Columbia will begin structural repairs at the Lady Street Parking Deck later this month as part of a broader, multi-year effort to revitalize city-owned parking facilities.

City officials say work at the Lady Street Parking Deck, located at 1100 Lady Street, will start Monday, January 19, 2026. The project marks the launch of Phase 1 of the City’s Capital Improvement Plan, which focuses on improving safety, extending the lifespan of parking decks and maintaining an accessible parking system across downtown Columbia.

During Phase 1, crews will repair concrete spalls, delamination and exposed reinforcement, address cracks in concrete surfaces, replace deteriorated joint sealant and install new expansion joints. The City says these repairs are critical to preventing long-term structural damage caused by concrete corrosion.

In addition to structural work, the City of Columbia says it is also investing in upgrades across its parking decks, including improved lighting, updated security cameras, deep cleaning and fresh paint.

To reduce disruption, renovations will be completed one deck at a time. The Lady Street Parking Deck will be the first facility addressed, with construction expected to last approximately three months. Beginning January 19 and continuing for about 12 weeks, public and visitor parking at the Lady Street deck will be unavailable. Monthly parking arrangements will also be modified during that period.

Parking Services officials say all current monthly parkers, both reserved and unreserved, have been contacted and will continue to have access to the facility.. Signage will also be posted before and during construction to guide drivers to nearby facilities.

Additional parking decks slated for repairs during Phase 1 include the Taylor Street Deck, Arsenal Hill Deck and Sumter Street Deck. The City says phased construction at those locations will allow for partial access throughout the repair process.

City leaders say the repairs address concrete corrosion, a common issue in aging parking structures. When water penetrates porous concrete and reaches reinforcing steel, the steel can corrode and expand, leading to cracking and exposed reinforcement that can compromise structural integrity if left unaddressed.

Officials say the parking deck upgrades are part of a long-term Parking Revitalization Plan made possible by a parking rate increase approved by City Council in December 2024 and implemented in March 2025. Revenue from the updated rates is being reinvested into maintaining and modernizing parking infrastructure.

Drivers are encouraged to visit the City’s downtown parking map at parking.columbiasc.gov/downtown-parking-map to find alternative parking options. Project updates and deck reopening information will be posted at parking.columbiasc.gov.