Highway 31 is funded to the NC state line through previously colllected Ride III taxes and could soon extend south to Murrells Inlet.
Tomorrow, the Horry County Council Infrastructure & Regulation committee will consider a resolution in support of funding the “Southern Evacuation Lifeline” (SELL) at a quoted cost of $450 million.
The latest estimates put the actual cost of SELL at $600 million.
We spoke with Horry County Councilman Al Allen, Chairman I & R, “The SELL project has been spoken about for many years. It is a desperately needed evacuation route for residents living from Surfside Beach to Pawleys Island in catastrophic events that include Hurricanes. These residents have no quick evacuation rout at this time.”
Allen added, “It will also serve as very critical infrastructure for internal Horry County, creating a higher quality of living for all residents.”
This proposed interstate-standard Highway 31 would connect S.C. Highway 22 to U.S. Highway 701 South and terminate at either Highway 707 near Holmestown Road or the U.S. Highway 17 Bypass in Murrells Inlet.
Several key members of the Ride IV commission inform MyrtleBeachSC News that Highway 31 is already funded to the NC state line at a price tag of $125 million in Ride III taxes collected.
EMAIL TO CONCERNED RESIDENTS
Efforts by a few local special interest groups are attempting to stop the project before it can continue. In response to one concern, Horry County Councilman Tyler Servant sent the following email.
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Donna,
Thank you for the email and I hope you are doing well. I-73 and the SELL Road are not mutually exclusive, in fact Horry County needs many new roads and upgrades (Highway 90 etc). This is something that I will always fight for. Pitting local road projects against one another does not benefit anyone and only dilutes the efforts of our entire area. Obviously, this has happened in the past and continues be an accepted practice by some.
Being a representative for the South Strand there is not a more important roadway for hurricane evacuation, economic development, public safety, inter-connectivity, affordable housing and access to medical care for rural communities than the SELL Road phase one (bridge to 701 from Murrells Inlet). This is something that I campaigned on every election. We are all displeased with the fact that I-73 in not under construction (my grandfather started leading the fight with many others for I-73 over 30 years ago), but it cannot come at the cost of other roads that our area desperately needs. Thanks again for the email and have a great weekend.
Sincerely,
Tyler
J. Tyler Servant
Chairman Administration Committee
Horry County Council-District 5
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NC FROM WILMINGTON TO SC STATE LINE
Lauren Haviland, Public Information Officer, North Carolina Department of Transportation says, “The NC side of this project isn’t as far along as Horry County, but our next priority meeting will be held in 2024.”
MAP OF CURRENT NCDOT PROJECT
The current NC maps have Highway 31 traveling North from S.C. 9 merging into Highway 17 in Shallotte, N.C. The ultimate desire, however, is to have the route connect with Interstate 40 in Wilmington, giving tourists and locals easy access from Wilmington to Pawleys Island.
“Those plans are not currently in the NC STIP, but we will be re-evaluating in 2024,” says Haviland.
WHAT IS THE NC STIP?
The STIP is a multi-year capital improvement document which denotes the scheduling and funding of construction projects across the state over a minimum 4 year time period as required by Federal law. North Carolina’s STIP covers a 10 year period, with the first six years (2020-2025 in this version) referred to as the delivery STIP and the latter four years (2026-2029 in this version) as the developmental STIP. Per 23 CFR 450.216 & 23 U.S. Code § 135 STIP’s must also:
• Be submitted to Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) & Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for approval at least every 4 years
• Be fiscally constrained by year
• Include all capital and non-capital projects using Title 23 USC or Title 49 USC funds, other than certain safety, planning, and research funds
• Include metropolitan TIPs from Metropolitan Planning Organizations
• Provide public comment opportunity on STIP document
• And include the following information:
o Project description and termini
o Estimated total cost (NCDOT includes Utility, R/W, and Construction costs)
o Federal funds to be obligated
o Responsible agency (such as municipality)
North Carolina’s STIP is updated every two years and developed in concert with federal and state revenue forecasts, North Carolina Department of Transportation’s (NCDOT’s)
Strategic Prioritization process, preconstruction and project development timetables, and in adherence with federal and state laws. North Carolina state law requires Board of
Transportation (BOT) action to approve the STIP.
This is the third STIP developed under the Strategic Transportation Investments (STI) law passed in June 2013. This landmark legislation elevates the use of transportation criteria
and the input of local communities to determine project priorities and directs the use of dollars for transportation projects.
WHAT IS THE TIMELINE ON I-73?
South Carolina has critical road infrastructure needs that must take precedence over I-73.
Of the 9,395 bridges in the state, 499, or 5.3 percent, are classified as structurally deficient. All of the bridges must be made sound immediately.
S.C. Speaker of the House, Murrell Smith informed delegates beholden to the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce that I-73 will not be funded until these bridges are repaired, I-526 in Charleston, S.C. is repaired, I-26 to Spartanburg repairs are completed, and I-95 needed repairs are done.
I-73 Timeline
This puts a timeline for I-73 at fifteen years minimum before any work can begin. Horry County residents will be required to shoulder the burden of much of that construction costs.
The NC Highway 31 project will now largely be paid for by N.C. residents, with Horry County residents paying none of those costs.
Interstate 40 in Wilmington
Interstate 40 in Wilmington already exists. The road runs through Arkansas, Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, Asheville, Greensboro, Durham/Raleigh, down east to Wilmington.
Should tomorrow’s Horry County I&R meeting go well, an interstate quality road from Arkansas to Wilmington to Pawleys Island could be coming sooner rather than later.