Will SC fund I-73 this year? Gov. McMaster says ‘yes.’
Following a speech at a Grand Strand conference, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster said Friday he is “confident” the state legislature will fund Interstate 73 this year.
“We have great leadership in the Pee Dee on this and I think we’re going to get it done,” McMaster said. “I think we’re going to get it done this year.”
McMaster visited the Hilton Myrtle Beach Resort to speak at the South Carolina Technical Education Association’s annual conference and promote his request for $124 million for technical college scholarships.
As part of that same spending proposal, McMaster has asked the legislature to put $300 million toward I-73 construction.
I-73 is planned as a 43-mile link between S.C. 22, near Conway, and Interstate 95, near Latta and Dillon.
The South Carolina Department of Transportation estimates the total project will cost around $1.6 billion. Additional funding would be needed to connect I-73 from it’s end at I-95 to North Carolina’s I-73.
SCDOT has estimated that the first 6-mile leg of I-73, which would connect I-95 to U.S. 501, will cost between $260 and $300 million. McMaster’s current request would pay to build that portion.
Other legs of I-73 are proposed to be built with future state allocations, federal funding and some money from local governments.
Since McMaster asked for I-73 funding in October, it’s been unclear if the state legislature would honor his wishes. Lawmakers this week approved $453 million for state transportation projects.
McMaster said the money could come from elsewhere.
“It doesn’t matter to me where it comes from as long as we get it to build I-73,” McMaster said.
Horry County leaders are currently in a holding pattern over I-73 funding as they wait to see if state lawmakers will indeed vote to fund I-73 this year.
Council members have said that if lawmakers do, they’ll allocate local funds. The county has identified $2.75 million it could dedicate to I-73 annually from its hospitality fee collection, but has yet to formally vote to spend that money.
Both Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach have voted to dedicate funding — together $5.9 million annually — but with a caveat that they’ll only spend the money if the state and federal government also allocate money to I-73.
McMaster noted Friday that I-73 has won necessary environmental permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, had those permits upheld in court, and has a construction plan via SCDOT.
He said South Carolina not shutting down during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the American Rescue Plan funding, created conditions for the state to fund projects such as I-73 this year.
He said he was “confident” the legislature would approve his ask this session.
“With all of that added in, we’ve got a great opportunity and I think we’re going to get these roads done,” he said.
“I think this is the year we’re going to get (I-73) done ....,” he added. “There’s a ways to go yet ... but I’m confident we can make great progress.”
