Construction signage, traffic barriers, and site demolition will be encountered by travelers on Highway 501 heading towards downtown Myrtle Beach. These preparations are being made by construction crews for a realignment project along Highway 501. The realignment will involve moving Highway 501 along the current route of 7th Avenue North, ultimately leading to Ocean Boulevard.
Water and sewer line replacements along 7th Avenue North commenced this week, while storm drainage was incorporated into sections of Broadway Street and Kings Highway. Additionally, preliminary clearing is being conducted in preparation for the major project.
The preparations being done will make it possible to align Highway 501 with 7th Avenue North instead of Main Street.
Myrtle Beach city officials stated that the project will not only resolve a complex intersection but also create opportunities for future growth in the Arts and Innovations District.
Highway 501 entering downtown Myrtle Beach
The realignment project requires the South Carolina Department of Transportation to demolish several buildings on Main Street, leading businesses like the William H. Miller Art Gallery to relocate in preparation for the upcoming demolition by construction crews.
William Miller, the owner of the gallery, mentioned that the project was made possible by the South Carolina Department of Transportation purchasing his property.
Miller said that even though his art gallery had been on Main Street for nine years, the move turned out to be a dream come true.
“There’s so much more space,” he said. “It afforded me the ability to have what I dreamed for a gallery as far as the track lighting, black ceilings and the white walls. I’m happy with the way it turned out.”
Miller concurs with the city’s viewpoint that streamlining the intersection would be advantageous for local commerce.
“I think everybody who’s been around town says they get lost around here,” he said. “I think going back to a grid system for driving will make it easier for people to find us and find this location.”
Road and lane closures are anticipated by the city to commence in late autumn, with the completion of the entire Highway 501 realignment project projected for 2026.