South Carolina Highway 31

Carolina Bays Parkway/John B. Singleton Parkway
Route information
Maintained by South Carolina Department of Transportation
Length	24.4 mi (39.3 km)
Existed	2002–present
Major junctions
Major intersections	US 501 near Carolina Forest Conway Bypass near N. Myrtle Beach
Location
Country	United States
State	South Carolina
Highway system
South Carolina State Highway System Interstate US State Scenic

Carolina Bays Parkway (South Carolina Highway 31, abbreviated S.C. Highway 31 or SC 31) is a six-lane Interstate Highway standards freeway that parallels (in most case) the Intracoastal Waterway from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The first phase opened on December 17, 2002, completing a 22-mile (35 km) link between U.S. Route 501 and S.C. Highway 9. The second phase opened in March 2005, running from US 501 southwest to and S.C. Highway 544. While the freeway is colloquially referred to as the Carolina Bays Parkway, the South Carolina General Assembly also designated the highway to be named the John B. Singleton Parkway in April 2000 in memory of John B. Singleton, a former Myrtle Beach City Council member and police commissioner.

History

Early history

In March 1996, voters in Horry County defeated a measure that would have levied a 1 percent sales tax countywide to pay for future road infrastructure in the Myrtle Beach area, including what would be a bypass to alleviate traffic problems in Myrtle Beach and the future Carolina Forest development. South Carolina Governor David Beasley created a local task force in May 1996 to determine short-term and long-term goals for the greater Grand Strand. The concept that came out of the rejection of the sales tax increase would be called "Plan B." The commission set up became what is currently known as the Road Improvement and Development Effort, or RIDE, headed by Gary Loftus, a former highway commissioner.

To avoid the difficulties that occurred with the failed tax increase, the committee sought ideas from the community. A series of public hearings were held in late June and early July 1996 to determine what would be best for the new roadway. A predominant idea at the time for funding would call for a 1.5 percent hospitality tax, along with state funding, to finish the Conway Bypass and construct the Carolina Bays Parkway. In August, the committee made several recommendations. One proposed that instead of the $750 million cost associated with the entire parkway, only a portion would be built around North Myrtle Beach to create a bypass around it costing $150 million. Some members of the task force and Myrtle Beach city council were concerned that the road would be built farther away from the traffic problem areas. Had the parkway not been built until years later, the costs would have increased dramatically due to future homes in Carolina Forest in the path of the roadway. Another issue with the road was how much traffic it would carry and how many lanes it should carry. The recommendation was given as two lanes with land available for a future six lanes. A later committee suggestion proposed four lanes. When the highway was finally built, it would be six lanes throughout.

When the Carolina Bays Parkway Task Force finished up its proposals on September 11, 1996, it asked for South Carolina to pay for $20 million per year in RIDE road projects and $15 million per year from the 1.5 percent proposed hospitality tax. The northern third of the parkway would be funded in a larger $550 million program.

Phase I, the initial phrase from U.S. Route 501 to S.C. Highway 9, was under consideration as early as 1991. Preliminary environmental impact research commenced in 1996 and concluded in 1998. Much of the road's path was determined by pre-existing developments and future development plans already put into place from International Paper's Carolina Forest development and Grande Dunes. Between Robert Grissom Parkway and U.S. Route 501, much of the road follows old logging trails.

Phase II

Phase II was completed in March 2005 and follows a former logging road and a geographic ridge formation. A second bridge was built at the intersection with U.S. Route 501.

Phase III

Phase III will be completed in the near future, taking it south to U.S. Route 17 Bypass in Surfside Beach at Holmestown Road and S.C. Highway 707. The third phase has been changed several time in compliance with environmental issues concerning the surrounding area. This will be the future terminus of Interstate 74, as funding cannot allow for the possible extensions to Georgetown or Charleston that had once been planned in the early 1990s.

A northern extension is also planned to connect with U.S. Route 17 in North Carolina. This extension would end at the North Carolina state border and closely parallel County Road 57. NCDOT would continue the Carolina Bays Parkway throughout the state as Interstate 74.

The Carolina Bays Parkway is planned to become part of Interstate 74, as well as Interstate 73 southwest of the Conway Bypass (S.C. Highway 22). The North Myrtle Beach Connector will run from the Parkway between S.C. Highway 22 and S.C. Highway 9 east to Main Street in North Myrtle Beach. This road, now known as Robert Edge Parkway, should open later in summer 2009.

Exit list

County	Location	Mile	Destinations	Notes
Horry	Socastee	0.0	South Carolina Highway 544 – Georgetown, Conway, Surfside Beach	Southbound exit and northbound entrance
	Carolina Forest	4.7	U.S. Route 501 – Conway, Myrtle Beach
		10.5	Robert Grissom Parkway – Myrtle Beach International Drive – Carolina Forest
	North Myrtle Beach	15.0	Water Tower Road
		16.5	South Carolina Highway 22 – Conway, Briarcliffe Acres
		24.4	Robert Edge Parkway – Wampee, North Myrtle Beach	Opening August 2009
		26.6	South Carolina Highway 9 – Loris, Dillon to U.S. Highway 17 – Cherry Grove Beach	Southbound entrance and northbound exit

Photo Gallery

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  South Carolina 31 at Grissom Parkway going south
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  South Carolina 31 near Conway Bypass
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  South Carolina 31 at South Carolina 544 the southern terminus