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South Carolina Highway 31

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Carolina Bays Parkway/John B. Singleton Parkway
Route information
Maintained by South Carolina Department of Transportation
Length26.6 mi (42.8 km)
Existed2002–present
Major junctions
Major intersections US 501 near Carolina Forest
Conway Bypass near N. Myrtle Beach
Location
CountryUnited States
StateSouth Carolina
Highway system
← SC 30→ SC 33

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[1].

History

Early history

The road that would eventually become Carolina Bays Parkway was planned as early as 1989 by then-U.S. Representative Robin Tallon. The roadway would ease traffic problems in Myrtle Beach, especially on U.S. 17 Bypass. The road derives its name from the various Carolina bays located west of the Intracoastal Waterway that would be close to the road. The following year, the Carolina Bays Parkway Task Force was established to help develop a plan for how the road would be built. The 1991 Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act was passed to allow the road to receive $9.6 million in federal funding as part of Corridor 5.[2][3]

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.[4] 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.[5]

To avoid the difficulties that occurred with the failed tax increase, the committee sought ideas from the community.[6] 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.[7] 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.[8] 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.[9] 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.[10] The following month, Horry County Council approved the hospitality tax for "Plan B" in an 8-3 vote. The tourism industry in Myrtle Beach was largely supportive of increasing the hospitality tax because area traffic was a large problem. The tax took effect in January 1997 and would end in twenty years.[11]

The planning of the highway was not without controversy. Two lobbying groups, Taxpayers for Common Sense and Friends of the Earth, both argued against the need for the road from economic and environmental perspectives. Most of the traffic that the road was meant to alleviate would not be centered in the area; most of the Myrtle Beach traffic problems would be too far away and on the opposite side of the Intracoastal Waterway. Split off as part of a separate project, the road's plan called for a spur route to be built across the Waccamaw River to connect to U.S. Highway 701 from Socastee. If built, it would destroy approximately 300 acres of wetlands on the river near Sandy Island.[12] Near the road's southern terminus in Surfside Beach, the road's plan would also split and partially destroy the Holmestown community. Two options were presented to either continue the road as Holmestown Road or to build a road that intersects it and continues to U.S. Highway 17.[13] David Farren, an environmental lawyer, argued that the Carolina Bays Parkway was a "developer's road" in the sense that it encouraged more "fringe" growth rather than allay current traffic problems.[14]

Although the plan for funding for building the highway was approved by Horry County, the state would have to contribute funding in order to commence construction. On June 17, 1997, both the House of Representatives and Senate of South Carolina approved for funding and for a new program, the South Carolina Transportation Infrastructure Bank, to help pay for the state's portion of the Carolina Bays Parkway and Conway Bypass. The plan did not increase existing taxes from the state.[15] Governor Beasley signed the bill on June 26 "that ended years of bitter disputes."[16] In January 1998, the Joint Bond Review Committee approved the funding necessary for the Carolina Bays Parkway and other projects in Horry County.[17] Wetlands mitigation began in March 1998 with the scaled-back version of the road affecting 60 less acres than originally planned; 240 acres of wetlands would finally be affected. A report by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service determined that the path would not disrupt endangered plants.[18] The final route of the highway was approved on June 25, 1998 with approvals by South Carolina and the federal government later that year.[19]

Phase I

Phase I consists of the highway from U.S. Route 501 to S.C. Highway 9, a length of 21.9 miles. In October 1999, a team was created by the South Carolina Department of Transportation named Palmetto Transportation Constructors to help with all aspects of the construction process of the first phase of the Carolina Bays Parkway. Included were nine firms, including Flatiron Structures Company of Longmont, Colorado, who were the primary construction firm. The road would tentatively be completed in 30 months at a cost of $232 million.[20] Construction commenced in December 1999, two months behind schedule as permits were being issued.[21]

The contract was signed on March 10, 2000 with a completion date of July 24, 2003.[22] Most of the construction work was completed by November 2002. Although the road was meant to open in July of that year, delays came when constructing the overpass at Water Tower Road, requiring the dirt road to be relocated to the overpass. The interchange with Robert Grissom Parkway was to be opened as a partial interchange, with further study to be done on converting it into a full interchange with International Drive to connect to Carolina Forest.[23] Before the official opening, many were using the road as an unofficial bypass around the highways in Myrtle Beach and as a faster route to deliver and remove materials for subdivisions in Carolina Forest.[24] The first phase opened on December 17, 2002.

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[25].

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

References

  1. ^ Bill 4466, South Carolina General Assembly, 113th Session, 1999-2000
  2. ^ "Parkway Route Gets OK of Panel, Construction to Start in 2000," Zane Wilson, The Sun News, June 26, 1998.
  3. ^ "Roads Revealed," Kevin Wiatrowski, The Sun News, April 22, 2002.
  4. ^ "'Plan B' for Roads Sought Groups Brainstorm for Better Highways," Mike Soraghan, The Sun News, May 5, 1996.
  5. ^ "Beasley's Road Committee Gets Panelists Pro- and Anti-Tax Forces Represented," Mike Soraghan, The Sun News, May 14, 1996.
  6. ^ "Solutions for Traffic Welcomed," Mike Soraghan, The Sun News, June 7, 1996.
  7. ^ "Public Hearings on Roads Provide Residents a Voice," Mike Soraghan, The Sun News, June 11, 1996.
  8. ^ "Parkway Plan's Fate Debated Road Task Force Members Disagree on How to Proceed," Mike Soraghan, The Sun News, July 30, 1996.
  9. ^ "Task Force Calls for 2-Lane Parkway," Mike Soraghan, The Sun News, August 13, 1996.
  10. ^ "Panel Passes Tax Plan Roads Group Concludes Work," Mike Soraghan, The Sun News, September 12, 1996.
  11. ^ "County OKs Tax for Roads," Mike Soraghan, The Sun News, October 16, 1996.
  12. ^ "D.C. Groups Dislike Proposed Parkway," Mike Soraghan, The Sun News, September 13, 1996.
  13. ^ "People Fear Impact of Parkway on Community," Mike Soraghan, The Sun News, August 26, 1997.
  14. ^ "Environmental Lawyer Opposes Road's Location", Mike Soraghan, The Sun News, August 26, 1997.
  15. ^ "Road Plan Approved Compromise," Mike Soraghan, The Sun News, June 18, 1997.
  16. ^ "Gov. Beasley Signs Roads Bill Ceremony Held in MB," Mike Soraghan, The Sun News, June 27, 1997.
  17. ^ "Strand Road Plan Clears Final Hurdle, S.C. 544 Survives Senator's Attack," Mike Soraghan, The Sun News, January 8, 1998.
  18. ^ "Hearing to Show Parkway Impact, SCDOT to Discuss Steps Taken to Protect Wetlands," Craig S. Lovelace, The Sun News, February 28, 1998.
  19. ^ "Parkway Route Gets OK of Panel, Construction to Start in 2000," Zane Wilson, The Sun News, June 26, 1998.
  20. ^ "S.C. DOT Selects Firm for Carolina Bays Project, Colorado Company Promises Quick Turnaround on Parkway," Zane Wilson, The Sun News, October 1, 1999.
  21. ^ "Parkway Builder Can Begin to Muster Resources," Zane Wilson, The Sun News, December 17, 1999.
  22. ^ "Carolina Bays Parkway ribbon cutting opens major highway," Bob Kudelka, The Connector, South Carolina Department of Transportation, Spring 2003.
  23. ^ "Carolina Bays May Be Ready in December," Kevin Wiatrowski, The Sun News, October 11, 2002.
  24. ^ "Drivers Trespassing on Parkway Segment," Natalie Burrowes Pruitt, The Sun News, October 17, 2002.
  25. ^ NCDOT - Carolina Bays Parkway Extension Feasibility Study
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