How will construction in downtown Myrtle Beach affect traffic? Here’s what we know
Yellow tape lines the right side of Broadway Street at the corner of 4th Avenue in Myrtle Beach, and a backhoe has dug a massive hole next to the Spic-N-Span Cleaning & Linen located at 320 Broadway St.
The construction is part of a citywide effort to take above-ground electrical wires and move them below ground, City of Myrtle Beach Infrastructure Projects Manager Chris Miller said.
Moving the above-ground electrical infrastructure below ground will slowly shift toward downtown Myrtle Beach, eventually impacting traffic.
Miller said workers are trying not to interfere with ongoing traffic, as daily work will go from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The project will take two weeks, he said.
The City of Myrtle Beach announced the work on Facebook Sept. 18, starting on 3rd Avenue and beginning work on 5th Avenue next.
The entire effort is expected to take three years and cost $32 million, Miller said.
The infrastructure project is part of the city’s ongoing Arts and Innovation District project, according to City of Myrtle Beach Director of Public Information Mark Kruea. The project is designed to turn Myrtle Beach into a tech hub in the south and will cost millions to implement.
The city, which already has $165 million in obligations, could take on an additional $370 million in long-term debt to fund the Arts and Innovation District Project, although the final figure could be lower.
This story was originally published October 3, 2023 at 5:00 AM.
