Watch out on these Myrtle Beach roads for checkpoints, traffic & more this Labor Day
With kids back in school and the temperatures gradually dropping, for many Americans Labor Day weekend marks the end of summer. Those making the most of the long weekend around Myrtle Beach are sure to encounter holiday traffic, so it’s a good idea to make a plan before hitting the road.
“I honestly think with how nice the weather is going to be, that traffic is going to be fairly dense all over the city,” said Myrtle Beach Police Department (MBPD) public information officer Randolph Angotti.
Here’s what drivers on Grand Strand roads should know this Labor Day weekend.
Myrtle Beach area checkpoints
On Thursday evening from 6 to 10 p.m., the MBPD will conduct a safety checkpoint at the intersection of South Kings Highway and Mallard Lake Drive. According to police, the initiative will focus on driver’s license violations, impaired driver enforcement, insurance compliance and vehicle registration compliance.
The South Carolina Department of Public Safety is working with local law enforcement partners for another checkpoint on Friday night at 9 p.m. on U.S. 17 at the North Carolina state line in Horry County in an effort to keep impaired drivers off of roads.
Flushing
In downtown Myrtle Beach, the city’s “flushing” traffic control will also be in place on Friday and Saturday night. The Summer Emergency Vehicle Access Plan is meant to improve response times, increase visibility and allow officers to address concerns, police say.
From 4 p.m. to 2 a.m., the northbound lane on Ocean Boulevard will close from 9th Avenue North to 16th Avenue North. Additionally, between 8th and 9th Avenue North, all traffic will be re-routed to Kings Highway.
Heavy traffic
Officials across the Grand Strand expect higher traffic volumes on major routes around the area. Drivers may want to avoid highways when possible and should anticipate longer commutes on:
- Kings Highway
- Ocean Boulevard
- S.C. 9
- U.S. Route 501
- U.S. 17
- U.S. 17 Bypass
“We just recommend, as always, anybody that is traveling in our area to pack their patience, plan ahead and try and give yourself a few extra minutes to get where you’re going safely and just have a plan,” Angotti said.