DOT crews officially closing traffic median at Shetland Lane and U.S. 17 Bypass

S.C. Department of Transportation crews started to officially close and remove the median crossover to Shetland Lane on U.S. 17 Bypass Monday in an effort to improve safety along the bypass.

Located between the interchanges at Farrow Parkway and Harrelson Boulevard, the median cut used to access Shetland Lane was originally closed Dec. 3, along with Fred Nash Boulevard from Farrow Parkway to Emory Road.

The bypass crossover was closed to prevent crashes at the intersection, which proved deadly in two cases last year.

The closures were expected to last three months while crews worked to construct a traffic circle to service an incoming Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market and other businesses near the parkway.

The construction of the traffic circle remains on schedule despite bouts of rainy weather, according to Myrtle Beach city spokesman Mark Kruea. Fred Nash Boulevard is expected to reopen to traffic in a couple of weeks.

The closures have rerouted southbound bypass motorists wanting to turn left onto Shetland Lane to loop back around to reach the right-in, right-out only turn. Motorists on Shetland Lane wanting to travel south on the bypass have been required to loop back around at the Harrelson Boulevard interchange.

Once construction is finished along Fred Nash Boulevard, Shetland motorists will be able to turn left on the boulevard to access Farrow Parkway and its bypass interchanges.

This story was originally published February 22, 2016 at 11:33 AM with the headline "DOT crews officially closing traffic median at Shetland Lane and U.S. 17 Bypass."