Will mixed-use development near Carolina Forest and Conway impact traffic? What to know
A planned development along U.S. 501 between Carolina Forest and Conway would add several businesses, but a study of the project predicts it will also bring an influx of traffic.
Meanwhile, the road is already one of the busiest in the Grand Strand, and ongoing construction and road infrastructure work could further impact Horry County drivers.
Developers plan to add a mixed-use development along U.S. 501 between Carolina Forest and Conway, with construction completion expected in 2027. The massive project will reside between Storage Rentals of America and Carolina Forest High School at 700 Gardner Lacy Rd. According to the plan, the new development consists of two large properties separated by railroad tracks.
The development will feature about 30 buildings, seven parking garages aside from additional parking lots, four amenity areas, two buildings designated for shops and two buildings designated for restaurants.
The Sun News obtained the development plans and traffic analysis via a Freedom of Information Act, FOIA, request from SCDOT. The national engineering and consulting firm Kimley Horn prepared a traffic impact analysis for the project.
The project plans to add:
- 1,890 new apartment units
- 6,300 square foot medical-dental office
- 267,800 square foot shopping center
- 139,100 square foot home improvement store
- 3,000 square foot drive-in bank
- 5,000 square foot gas station and convenience store
- 20,200 square foot restaurant space
- 2,500 square foot coffee shop with drive-thru
While the new development will bring business, the traffic analysis of the project predicts an increase in cars due to the project. Kimley Horn’s study found that the new mixed-use development could add 26,572 daily trips. Kimley Horn’s report also estimates the site adding almost 1,700 more trips during the peak morning hour and more than 2,000 during the afternoon peak.
U.S. 501 is one of the busiest roads in the Myrtle Beach area. The South Carolina Department of Transportation traffic analysis and data application lists the annual average daily traffic for the road between the South Carolina 544 overpass to Carolina Bays Parkway at 51,600, making it one of the busiest roads in the Grand Strand area.
The study also found the mixed-use development will also affect traffic for Burning Ridge Road, Wild Wing Boulevard, Myrtle Ridge Drive and Postal Way will all be impacted by the development.
The analysis also included recommendations, including adding several turning lanes for cars entering and exiting the area and internal roads.
Kimley Horn prepared the report for Impeccable Development, a commercial real estate firm that’s opened a new Popeyes restaurant in Myrtle Beach and is behind the project. Impeccable Development’s planned Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steakburgers restaurant is within the area the traffic analysis examined.
The planned mixed-use development isn’t the only factor expected to impact traffic along U.S. 501. Horry County is expanding the highway as part of its Ride III road infrastructure project funded via a one-cent sales tax. U.S. 501 will become six lanes from S.C. Highway 31 to the S.C. 544 Interchange, with work conducted in two phases. The county’s Ride III overview projects the improvements will cost $50 million and conclude during the fall of 2026.
This story was originally published November 27, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
