Horry County needs more roads, less flooding, better beaches. Here’s what’s on the wish list.
If you’ve lived in Horry County for even a few weeks, chances are you’ve already gotten snarled up in a traffic jam, maybe on Highway 501, maybe somewhere in Carolina Forest, maybe even along Highway 17 as tourists flood the coastal cities for the summer.
If you’ve lived in Horry County for a few years now, you may have experienced flooding during a hurricane, major storm, or even just several days of continuous rain. You’ve likely seen how certain roads, bridges and areas of the county pool water until it can drain away, and how evacuation routes can get clogged up for hours and hours.
And if you’ve lived here your whole life, you probably have an even more comprehensive sense of what new roads and bridges the county needs, which ones need to be fixed and which beaches need work, too.
Well, rest assured that county leaders, too, know they have a lot of infrastructure needs. The problem, they say, is finding the money for all those projects, which easily total in the billions upon billions of dollars.
Though Horry County officials can’t just print all of the money they need for those projects, leaders in recent weeks have begun taking concrete steps to get that funding, through the county’s regular budget process, federal grants and good ‘ole lobbying of South Carolina’s federal lawmakers. Some of the projects could also receive funding through a fourth RIDE program, a limited-run sales tax program that the county uses to build and fix roads. The county is currently working its way through a list of projects funded by the RIDE III program.
As part of its efforts to get various road, flood mitigation and beach projects funded, Horry County Council members took a preliminary vote Tuesday to establish a list of projects the county leaders would like to see funded, be it through a federal grant, President Joe Biden’s infrastructure package that’s currently winding its way through Capitol Hill, or a local funding program. That list includes a total of 27 projects.
“I think what we’re trying to do is reach out to as many avenues as we possibly can, and if we do get something from the feds, that’s great, then we have plenty more can apply for something from the state or something locally,” County Council Chairman Johnny Gardner said about the list of projects. “And RIDE 4, hopefully we can start organizing that next year, the sooner the better, start funding that and moving forward.”
David Gilreath, the county’s assistant administrator for infrastructure and regulation, said Tuesday that this sort of wish list isn’t something the county has done before, but that the county is putting one together now so that administrators and other staff can apply for grants and other funding for infrastructure projects without waiting for a vote from council.
“This is something I don’t think we’ve done in the past, we have capital plans and things like that, but what this is, this is a list of projects that helps the council to tell staff what it’s wishes are,” Gilreath told councilors Tuesday. “We see grant opportunities almost every day but we don’t know if council wants us to pursue those, so we want to…compile these projects so that when we see an opportunity we can better pursue an opportunity.”
County leaders have also recently sent a list of major projects with funding needs to Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-SC) in an effort to secure money from Biden’s infrastructure package. Kevin Bishop, a spokesperson for Graham, said Tuesday that negotiations for that package are ongoing and that Graham favors a $1 trillion spending bill, as opposed to the $4 trillion in spending Biden proposed originally. Bishop said he’s not sure if senators like Graham will be able to reserve, or earmark, money in that package, but said Graham and his office are willing to help the county win federal grants in the meantime.
Here’s what you need to know about what projects are on the county’s wish list, and where the money for each might come from:
Road projects
Project: Southern Evacuation Lifeline (SELL)
Estimated cost: $1 billion
Why it’s needed: The SELL, as both county and state lawmakers have described it, would be a much-needed additional evacuation route for residents of Southern Horry County, and would better connect that end of the county to Highway 501. The SELL would be a multi-lane roadway extending from the existing interchange of Highway 22 and Highway 501 to the Highway 17 bypass south of Myrtle Beach.
How to pay for it: Horry County is in the early stages of building this road. The county dedicated $25 million of the RIDE III monies to the SELL for environmental studies and right-of-way acquisition. County leaders asked for an additional $150 million for right-of-way acquisition from Graham.
Project: Elevating and widening part of Highway 22
Estimated cost: $70 million
Why it’s needed: If and when the Southern leg of Interstate 73 is constructed, it will ultimately connect I-95 to Highway 22. Horry County says about two miles of Highway 22 need to be raised up higher and widened to comply with interstate standards.
How to pay for it: Unclear at present. Horry County may be able to fund part or all of this project through grants or the RIDE IV program.
Project: I-73 right-of-way acquisition
Estimated cost: $15 million
Why it’s needed: Before I-73 is actually built, the state or county needs to own the land the road will run through. Some of the right-of-way is already purchased, and county leaders say $15 million will cover the rest. Generally, local leaders say I-73 is needed to connect the Grand Strand to I-95, which could transform the local economy, and help relieve local congestion.
How to pay for it: County leaders have asked Graham to earmark the $15 million needed for this project in Biden’s infrastructure plan.
Project: Augusta Plantation Interchange at Highway 31
Estimated cost: $75 million
Why it’s needed: Residents of Carolina Forest, one of the densest areas of the county, complain more and more frequently that traffic congestion in the area is becoming untenable. At present, primary East-West access points for the area lie at either end of long boulevards. County leaders hope an additional road in the middle of Carolina Forest will help alleviate traffic.
How to pay for it: Council members have budgeted the $75 million needed for this project in next year’s budget, using part of the hospitality fee funding that’s available again after the county settled a lawsuit with Myrtle Beach. County leaders have also asked Graham to earmark the $75 million needed in Biden’s infrastructure plan.
Project: Carolina Bays Parkway (Highway 31) Northern Extension
Estimated cost: $552 million
Why it’s needed: If extended, Highway 31 would serve as one of the most comprehensive North-South roads in Horry County, extending from North Carolina to Socastee. In the future, North Carolina could connect the road to Interstate 74, giving the region another interstate connector.
How to pay for it: Though this project costs $552 million in total, Horry County is responsible for $185 million of that total while North Carolina is responsible for $367 million. Horry County budgeted $125 million for its portion in RIDE III, but has come up $60 million short. Leaders have asked Graham to earmark the $60 million funding gap in Biden’s infrastructure plan.
Project: Widening Highway 378
Estimated cost: $150 million
Why it’s needed: This project would widen a two-lane portion of Highway 378 to four lanes in the Western part of Horry County as the road approaches the county line.
How to pay for it: Unclear at present. Horry County may be able to fund part or all of this project through grants or the RIDE IV program.
Project: Widening Highway 90; replacing bridges along Highway 90
Estimated cost: $400 million
Why it’s needed: The Highway 90 corridor has grown increasingly dense in recent decades, and residents there complain frequently of traffic and an increase in vehicle wrecks, some of which have been fatal. This project was considered for funding under RIDE III but would have taken up a majority, if not all, of the funding and was nixed. This project would make the entire length of the road, from North Myrtle Beach to Conway, four lanes.
How to pay for it: Unclear at present. Horry County may be able to fund part or all of this project through grants or the RIDE IV program.
Project: Widening Highway 905
Estimated cost: $360 million
Why it’s needed: Like Highway 90, Highway 905 has grown increasingly dense in recent decades and both residents and county leaders have said the road should be four lanes. The county’s 2040 comprehensive plans lists widening Highway 905 as necessary. This project would widen the road to four lanes from it’s current four-lane section near Conway to Highway 9.
How to pay for it: Unclear at present. Horry County may be able to fund part or all of this project through grants or the RIDE IV program.
Project: Widening Highway 9
Estimated cost: $185 million
Why it’s needed: Similar to the two previous projects, the Highway 9 corridor and the Loris area has grown denser in recent decades. This project would transform the once-country road to a four-land divided highway with turning lanes at major intersections from Horry County to Dillon County. The county has currently set aside $21.7 million to widen the portion of Highway 9 from where it’s current four-lane portion ends to the road’s intersection with Highway 66.
How to pay for it: Unclear at present. Horry County may be able to fund part or all of this project through grants or the RIDE IV program.
Project: Lake Busbee Bypass
Estimated cost: $230 million
Why it’s needed: This project would build and realign roads in Conway to better connect several roads and highways in the area. County leaders describe this project as an extension of the Conway Perimeter Road with turning lanes at intersections from Highway 701 to Highway 544. The county is currently working to spend $18.4 million as it constructs the Conway Perimeter Road, which will connect Highway 378 to Highway 701 under the RIDE III program.
How to pay for it: Unclear at present. Horry County may be able to fund part or all of this project through grants or the RIDE IV program.
Project: Highway 501 frontage roads between Conway and Myrtle Beach
Estimated cost: $55 million
Why it’s needed: As a way to alleviate traffic on Highway 501, Horry County has begun connecting the frontage roads that run alongside the highway and that give access to the stores and businesses there. This project would, ultimately, create a separate, non-highway route from Myrtle Beach to Conway. As part of RIDE III, the county is currently working to extend Postal Way further East, connecting it with the Tanger Outlets. Other connections would include extending Postal Way between Gardner Lacy Road and Century Circle and extending Middle Ridge Avenue between West Perry Road and Legends Drive, Rodeo Drive, and Las Palmas.
How to pay for it: Around $9 million is currently budgeted in RIDE III for projects like these. Otherwise, it’s unclear at present how the county will pay for this. Horry County may be able to fund part or all of this project through grants or the RIDE IV program.
Project: Turning lanes on Highway 319
Estimated cost: $50 million
Why it’s needed: Highway 319 is one of the main arteries between Conway and Aynor. Like much of the rest of Western Horry County, the area is growing denser. This project would build turning lanes at intersections along the entire length of the road. Intersections include: Four Mile, Harris Shortcut, Alford, Bakers Chapel and Horry Roads, Valley Forge and WM Nobles, Nichols Highway and Bill Jones, and Julius Goodson.
How to pay for it: Unclear at present. Horry County may be able to fund part or all of this project through grants or the RIDE IV program.
Project: Widening Highway 701
Estimated cost: $250 million
Why it’s needed: This project would come in two parts, widening the roadway to five lanes from its intersection with Highway 9 to the North Carolina state line and widening the roadway to five lanes from its current five-lane endpoint at Tiger Drive in Conway on South to the Pee Dee River Bridge approach at Lucas Bay Drive near the county line.
How to pay for it: The county has put aside $65.1 million to widen the portion of Highway 701 between Highways 319 and 22, North of Conway. As for the rest of the project, it’s unclear how the county could fund it at present. Horry County may be able to fund part or all of this project through grants or the RIDE IV program.
Project: Widening Highway 544
Estimated cost: $20 million
Why it’s needed: This project would widen Highway 544 to six lanes at its intersection with Highway 17 and add intersection improvements and pedestrian infrastructure. County officials say this project will “alleviate traffic on a major roadway that supports a large volume of tourist traffic.”
How to pay for it: The county is paying to connect or improve other intersections along Highway 544 under the RIDE III program. But at present, it’s unclear how the county might pay for this project. Horry County may be able to fund part or all of this project through grants or the RIDE IV program.
Project: Highway 57 safety and capacity improvements
Estimated cost: $80 million
Why it’s needed: County leaders say this project is needed to widen parts of Highway 57 and make it safer for pedestrians in the area. This project, they say, will “alleviate traffic congestion in a recently developed area and main route for visitors from North Carolina. The project would widen Highway 57 to three lanes or five lanes from Highway 9 to the North Carolina state line.
How to pay for it: Unclear at present. Horry County may be able to fund part or all of this project through grants or the RIDE IV program.
Project: Big Block Road improvements
Estimated cost: $40 million
Why it’s needed: This project would widen and realign Big Block Road between Highways 544 and 707. The project would add pedestrian infrastructure to a residential area and include drainage improvements as well.
How to pay for it: The county is currently spending $7.5 million from the RIDE III program to connect Palmetto Point Boulevard to Big Block Road at the Highway 544 intersection. Aside from that work, it’s unclear at present how the county may pay for this project. Horry County may be able to fund part or all of this project through grants or the RIDE IV program.
Project: Singleton Ridge Road improvements
Estimated cost: $50 million
Why it’s needed: This project would widen the road to three lanes and add pedestrian infrastructure from Highway 544 to an existing roundabout at Technology Parkway.
How to pay for it: Unclear at present. Horry County may be able to fund part or all of this project through grants or the RIDE IV program.
Flood mitigation projects
Horry County’s wish list also includes a half-dozen flooding mitigation projects. The county has experienced a number of devastating hurricanes and related flooding in recent years, and these projects run the gamut from adding retention ponds to studying if the Waccamaw River should have a diversion canal dug out. Here’s what you need to know:
Project: Waccamaw and Pee Dee River Systems Flood Risk Management and Mitigation Study
Estimated cost: $3 million
Why it’s needed: This project would provide funding to the Army Corp of Engineers to complete a “comprehensive hydrology” study of the county’s major rivers to “fully analyze the regional river network and identify viable large-scale infrastructure projects that will mitigate future flood risks.” Included in the study would be an assessment of how viable a diversion canal would be.
How to pay for it: County leaders asked Graham to earmark the $3 million needed in Biden’s infrastructure plan. Otherwise, it’s unclear how the county might pay for this study at present.
Other projects include:
River snagging to clean the Waccamaw River - $6 million
Adding a culvert under the McCormick Road Bridge of Socastee Creek to improve the rate of flow to the Intracoastal Waterway - $2.4 million
Improving water flow in Buck Creek - $4.3 million
Lincoln Heights Regional Detention Pond, near Highway 1008 - $3.5 million
Highways 9 and 57 Regional Detention Pond - $3.5 million
Unlike many of the road projects, the county hasn’t yet outlined specific, or even likely, plans for funding these projects. Therefore, it’s currently unclear how the county will pay for these projects. It’s likely the county will be eligible for grants to cover at least some of the costs.
Beach projects
On the county’s wish list are also two beach renourishment projects. Generally, beach re-nourishment means adding sand or sediment to a beach to prevent erosion and keep the beach wide. County leaders have said that these projects help maintain the value of beach-front property, which is a significant portion of the local tax base.
The first project would put $25 million towards renourishing the beach from Myrtle Beach State Park to Garden City. The second project would put $15 million towards renourishing the beach at Arcadian Shores, from Singleton Swash to Apache Campground. It’s not yet clear how the county will pay for these projects.