Delay in widening U.S. 501 sparks criticism

A state Department of Transportation decision to delay the widening of U.S. 501 from Waccamaw Pines Drive to Gardner Lacy Road until 2013 has spurred at least one Carolina Forest resident to action.

The work was scheduled to begin this year, but has now been pushed back around 14 months.

Dennis DiSabato, the former head of the community’s civic association and candidate for the District 56 House seat, said a lack of assistance with infrastructure needs in Carolina Forest is one of the main reasons he’s decided to run for the state House.

“There are basic things that the government needs to provide. Infrastructure’s one of them, and I just don’t feel like we’re getting adequate representation,” DiSabato said.

Carolina Forest’s population exploded between the 2000 and 2010 census, growing from 3,400 residents to 21,000.

And with that growth has come the demand for road improvements to help with traffic congestion.

DiSabato has said that budget shortfalls at the county, state and federal level are hindering their efforts to provide specific services, which include road work.

“It’s disappointing,” he said. “Obviously, infrastructure is one of the biggest needs we have out here in Carolina Forest.”

The $2 million projected cost for the widening project has been allocated by the Grand Strand Area Transportation Study and is available for the project, said Pete Poore, spokesman with the DOT, via email.

Poore said the delay in the widening project – now expected to start in the spring of 2013 – is due to the large volume of design work in the region. The schedule was shifted in order for the designs to be accomplished in-house with DOT personnel.

“Once the design of the project is completed, right-of-way acquired and any necessary permits obtained, the project will be advanced to construction,” Poore said. “Contractors will bid the work on the project and the lowest responsive bidder will construct the project with SCDOT oversight.”

Other 2012 Horry County road projects, such as work on S.C. 31 and S.C. 707, won’t be affected at this time, Poore added. Preliminary design and engineering efforts for the U.S. 501 widening are in progress, but can’t be completed due to the heavy volume of in-house work.

When construction does begin, efforts will be focused primarily on areas outside of the traffic lanes.

Traffic congestion a headache for motorists, law enforcement

Delaying the widening of U.S. 501 means drivers won’t be getting any relief from the traffic problems plaguing that area of Horry County.

Lance Cpl. Sonny Collins, with the S.C. Highway Patrol, said traffic congestion peaks during the beginning and end of school, and at 5 p.m. as residents are finishing work.

Gardner Lacy Road has heavier traffic during school hours, as Carolina Forest High School is located on that street, Collins added.

The corporal said in that area of U.S. 501, from Waccamaw Pines to Gardner Lacy, highway patrol troopers work accidents through there that are typically minor. Rainy days lead to more of these fender benders.

Collins is optimistic that widening U.S. 501 will alleviate some of the traffic problems. Still, it won’t be a total fix.

“With all the development in Carolina Forest, and of course that being the major corridor to the beach, it’s always going to be a busy intersection,” Collins said.