I-73: A fairy tale?

Fairy tales are wonderful, but reality isn’t a fairy tale, and this tale may not have a happy ending. For the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, and the I-73/74 Association to use slick videos, syrupy messages and free dinners to say that I-73 will increase tourism and jobs, and bring millions more in tax dollars to the state deceives many to satisfy the needs of a few.

Let’s look at some of the fairy tales:

• Will I-73 create 7,000 construction and 22,000 permanent jobs as its supporters claim? No.

The research used by the chamber is flawed and exaggerates the jobs and tourism increases. Look at reality in SC:

Interstate 185: Southern Connector in Greenville County. This 16 mile toll road was supposed to create economic development to pay for its $200-plus million price tag. It never did. The economic development did not happen, private bonds defaulted, and the SCDOT is on the hook for over a million dollars year in maintenance on I-185.

Interstate 95: built 40 years ago. It has brought prosperity to only a few counties along its path. In fact, a senior state senator has been trying to pass legislation to fund development to spur development along I-95. Why would I-73 do what I-95 has not?

• Is there a cheaper alternative to I-73? Yes. I-73 would cost an estimated $1.4 billion (today) for just 40-plus miles from I-95 to the Conway bypass. But, there is a parallel route, just six miles away – S.C. 38/U.S. 501 – a good, four-lane divided highway with newer interchanges and posted speed limits from 55 to 65 mph. There are almost no traffic lights until Aynor. And millions are being spent on a new interchange and other road improvements in Aynor to make it faster. Upgrades to this route could be done for less than 10 percent of the cost of a new I-73. The estimated time difference between this alternative and I-73 is ten minutes.

• Can economic development and jobs be created along S.C.38/U.S.501? Yes. If I-73 supporters had put their efforts on developing this corridor, and finding ways to provide water/sewer for businesses to develop along that route, there could have been jobs now, instead of promises years from now. Bridgestone Tire put a distribution facility on U.S. 52 in Kingstree and another on U.S. 301 in Wilson, N.C. They did not demand that South Carolina build them an interstate. Small towns like Mullins, Marion, Dillon and Latta don’t have funds to increase their water/wastewater treatment capacity. South Carolina does not need more roads; we have the fourth highest number of roads in the nation. Perhaps we need utility infrastructure along those roads and a trained work force.

• Will I-73 eliminate traffic backups to the Myrtle Beach area? No. The proposed I-73 ends at the Conway bypass (S.C. 22) – about six miles in from U.S. 501. It does not go to Myrtle Beach. There will still be backups between Conway and Myrtle Beach on U.S. 501, and taxpayers will not be happy when they find out they have been deceived.

• Is there money to build I-73? That depends on Congress. Sen. Graham and Rep. Scott are supporting it. They might convince their colleagues to put funding for I-73 in the national transportation bill and use S.C. taxpayer funds for its multimillion-dollar match, but that’s money needed to fix crumbling roads and bridges, not to build new roads we cannot maintain.

• Do we need an interstate from South Carolina all the way to Sault St. Marie, Mich., as the I73/74 association is saying? No. They already exist. Look I-77, I-90 and I-75. Maybe that’s why Ohio and Michigan have dropped their plans for I-73.

• Is it needed for hurricane evacuation? No. The National Weather Service, the governor, and the S.C. Emergency Management team allow sufficient time to evacuate the coast – based on existing roads. Just having an interstate does not guarantee rapid evacuation if people don’t heed the warnings.

• Is I-73 politically driven and is it a path to campaign contributions and votes by the Myrtle Beach chamber and its members? Yes. They have been doing so for years.

• Has the proposed I-73 corridor created a costly environmental battle? Yes. There are sensitive wetlands in its path. Improving the existing alternative, S.C. 38/U.S. 501, has far less environmental impact and eliminates that issue. Congress is now debating ways to prioritize projects that use existing corridors rather than new ones to speed the process.

If you think our state and federal elected officials should focus on making the most efficient use of our existing highways, and maintaining them, and reducing our debt, and not increasing it with unnecessary new roads – please let them know, now.

Nuckles is the S.C. DOT commissioner for the Fifth District.