Traffic median at U.S. 17 Bypass, Shetland Lane interchange to close Thursday

Myrtle Beach officials on Thursday will temporarily close the median cut along U.S. 17 Bypass at the Shetland Lane interchange to prevent left-hand turns onto the highway while construction is ongoing at Fred Nash Boulevard.

The announcement comes on the heels of numerous complaints that the intersection would become a safety hazard once Fred Nash Boulevard closed for three months between Farrow Parkway and Emory Road. Road crews will be constructing a traffic circle that will service a Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market and other businesses.

Several serious traffic crashes have occurred at that intersection this year, including two fatalities.

Fred Nash was scheduled to close Wednesday, but was delayed until the South Carolina Department of Transportation approved the median closure for Thursday, the city said in an announcement posted on its Facebook page.

“We wanted to implement both at the same time so that drivers would not be tempted to dash across U.S. 17 at Shetland Lane,” the statement said.

Orange barriers filled with water will block the median opening. Drivers exiting Shetland Lane to head southbound on U.S. 17 Bypass will have to turn right and then use the Harrelson Boulevard overpass to reverse direction. Drivers accessing Shetland Lane from the bypass will have to make a U-turn under the Farrow Parkway interchange, then head north on the bypass to make a right turn.

Traffic exiting Lauderdale Bay on the west side of the bypass will only be allowed to make a right turn, however northbound bypass traffic will still be permitted to make a left turn onto Lauderdale Bay.

This story was originally published December 2, 2015 at 5:36 PM with the headline "Traffic median at U.S. 17 Bypass, Shetland Lane interchange to close Thursday."