The City of Columbia closed the South Main Street and 8th Street intersection Monday, May 5, 2025. The closure will remain through Tuesday, September 2, 2025, to construct a new roundabout aimed at improving traffic flow and enhancing pedestrian safety in the downtown area. The new traffic feature will also serve as a lasting tribute to the city’s place in civil rights history.
At the center of the roundabout will stand a statue of Justice Thurgood Marshall, donated by the Columbia Peace and Justice Initiative (CPJI), a local organization dedicated to promoting awareness, education, and engagement around civil rights history in Columbia. The statue honors Marshall’s legal work in Columbia following the 1946 unrest. Marshall, who later became the first African American United States Supreme Court Justice, was part of a legal defense team representing local citizens in a landmark case that helped ignite the modern Civil Rights Movement. The events in Columbia also prompted President Harry S. Truman to form the President’s Committee on Civil Rights, which laid the groundwork for civil rights legislation nationwide. 88
“We are proud this project not only enhances our infrastructure and provides a needed improvement to East 8th Street, a long-time Council strategic initiative, but also reflects our community’s commitment to recognizing our place in the history of the modern Civil Rights Movement,” said Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder. “The Thurgood Marshall Roundabout will stand as a powerful symbol of Columbia’s role in the broader struggle for civil rights in America and will hopefully encourage others, residents and visitors alike, to learn more about this piece of our community’s history.”
Trent Ogilvie, co-founder and President of the Columbia Peace and Justice Initiative (CPJI), remarked, “CPJI is excited to partner with the City of Columbia to be a catalyst for historic revitalization downtown on 8th Street. This visionary project features a magnificent statue of Thurgood Marshall and a tribute to the heroes of 1946, which will serve as a landmark in our journey to explore the past, redeem the present, and inspire the future.”
“Our city made a significant contribution to the early Civil Rights Movement, and I’m excited to see this project come to completion. I believe it will introduce even more people to the story of 1946 and the heroic stand for justice,” added Russ Adcox, co-founder and Vice President of CPJI.
The roundabout is a vital part of Columbia’s ongoing commitment to improving traffic circulation and pedestrian safety, while also promoting a more walkable and accessible downtown.
“This is an exciting and meaningful project for our city,” said City Manager Tony Massey. “It reflects a smart infrastructure solution while providing an opportunity to honor a pivotal figure in American history whose work in Columbia had national impact.”
The City of Columbia appreciates the public’s patience during the construction period and encourages motorists to use alternate routes. Additional details regarding detours and traffic control measures will be shared in the coming weeks.
The City looks forward to celebrating the completion of the Thurgood Marshall Roundabout in September.
MAP OF CLOSURE:
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