Status on Interstate entering Myrtle Beach area

[J Route Z]

I heard I-74 might extend into Myrtle Beach (MB). It seems strange there is no major highway to and from MB. I-95 is a major road 60 miles away, then you have to take either state or U.S. Highways to get there, such as U.S. 17, SC 22, U.S. 301 and 501. I notice I-26 leads to Charleston, SC, as well as I-40 for Wilmington, NC. But Myrtle Beach is a large tourist destination and you would think they would have an expressway, from I95 to MB.

[Lytton]

I think its better to have an auxiliary or 3di of I-95, probably signed as I-195 since South Carolina for some reason doesn't have any I-95 3dis.

[Mapmikey]

According to the Book, "The South Carolina Highway Department: 1917-1987" by John Hammond Moore:

Traffic trying to reach Myrtle Beach was thought to be problematic in the late 1950s (notably Marion) where cops had to supplement traffic signals.  It was considered a crisis by 1966.   This was the impetus for the construction of SC 576.

US 501 had already bypassed Conway and multilaned over to the beach in 1959.

My guess is that there was no push for I-20's original plan to go to Myrtle Beach because the state was already addressing it.  Also there were louder voices in SC arguing about I-95 being too far from Charleston and I-26 not going to Greenville among other gripes.

In 1972 a toll road bill existed and two of the projects suggested were a Myrtle Beach connector to I-95 and a Myrtle Beach connector to Rock Hill/Charlotte area.  After several years of study the SCDOT concluded that toll roads in SC would not be workable financially and fee increases to finance projects were shot down by the General Assembly.

The book also notes that then-Senator Hollings tried very hard in 1986 to win federal money for a 69-mile highway from I-95 to Myrtle Beach.  I vaguely remember newspaper articles about extending I-20 from that time or earlier but obviously he was not successful.

South Carolina has tried to relieve traffic by promoting on I-95 more than one way to get over there (US 521 from Manning to Georgetown and US 378 from Turbeville to Conway) and doing spot improvements on those roads.  Then they built the SC 22 freeway.

They made a mistake with the SC 317-becomes US 17 bypass of Myrtle Beach because they didn't make it a full freeway.  That road became unusable as a real bypass pretty quickly necessitating the need for the SC 31 freeway.

As for I-95 and 3di's, there was also a proposal in the 1980s to built an interstate that connected to I-95 on both ends but ran much nearer Charleston and would've passed east of Lake Moultrie...

Mapmikey

[PColumbus73]

Currently, there are plans for I-73 and I-74 to connect to Myrtle Beach, however, it will be a very long time before that happens, considering there hasn't been much funding for the project. If an interstate were to be built, I'd prefer an I-195 spur if 73 doesn't happen. However, if an interstate doesn't happen, I'd like to see SC Route 9 upgraded from Green Sea (a few miles west of Loris) to Dillon. SC 9 is a 4-lane highway between Loris and Little River/North Myrtle Beach. SC 9 would take a lot of pressure off US 501 if people used it.

[Henry]

The very least they can do is to extend the SC 22 freeway to I-95 and end it there until the rest of I-73 is built up to NC.

[WashuOtaku]

South Carolina is currently focused on building I-73, here's their link: http://www.i73insc.com/  What's slowing it down is simply funding for it.  I-74 is more on North Carolina's radar at this time and they haven't even figured out the final routing between Bolton, NC to the SC state line, near US 17; so that's a long-term project.

When the Interstate system was setup, Myrtle Beach wasn't a popular tourist trap it eventually became.  They have talked for years about getting an interstate and that's the reason why SC 22 and SC 31 were built, both of which will become part of I-73 and I-74 respectively.  Sadly, you'll just have to wait a little longer.

[broadhurst04]

I just came back from a five-day stay in Myrtle Beach. Going home, traffic on northbound US 501 was heavy and this was on a Friday morning. In October. It must be horrendous in the peak tourist season.

I think the first priority should be to finish the SC 22 freeway to I-95. Second, US 501 should be 3 lanes each way from at least Marion to Myrtle Beach. Same for SC 9 from Dillon to Little River. To me, it would make more sense to upgrade SC 9 to a full freeway from Dillon to Little River and designate that as I-74, ending at the interchange with US 17. Then current SC 31 could be signed as US 17 Bypass, and the SC 31 designation could move to the  current US 17 Bypass.

This is a very popular tourist area, judging by the numerous out-of-state license plates (as far away as Ontario and Quebec) and the dozens of high-rise hotels on the oceanfront, from Cherry Grove all the way to just south of the airport. The road network definitely needs a major upgrade.

[WashuOtaku]

I just came back from a five-day stay in Myrtle Beach. Going home, traffic on northbound US 501 was heavy and this was on a Friday morning. In October. It must be horrendous in the peak tourist season.

I think the first priority should be to finish the SC 22 freeway to I-95. Second, US 501 should be 3 lanes each way from at least Marion to Myrtle Beach. Same for SC 9 from Dillon to Little River. To me, it would make more sense to upgrade SC 9 to a full freeway from Dillon to Little River and designate that as I-74, ending at the interchange with US 17. Then current SC 31 could be signed as US 17 Bypass, and the SC 31 designation could move to the  current US 17 Bypass.

This is a very popular tourist area, judging by the numerous out-of-state license plates (as far away as Ontario and Quebec) and the dozens of high-rise hotels on the oceanfront, from Cherry Grove all the way to just south of the airport. The road network definitely needs a major upgrade.

All you need to do then is pressure your SC state or federal representative to put more funds in expanding the highway system in Horry County.   

Honestly, they know this and they have expanded the highways there many times only to meet or exceed with more traffic, it's a constant battle.  However, you can forget I-74 overlapping with SC 9; the states already made a compact on where the interstate entry point will be (near US 17), and to change that would be an agreement with both states.

As for widening US 501 to six-lane from Marion to Myrtle Beach, I do agree with you there; but they aren't going to do that since SC 22 exists, which will eventually become I-73.  And the plan is to create new freeway, making US 501 an alternate route, when everything is completed... someday.

[froggie]

since South Carolina for some reason doesn't have any I-95 3dis.

Lack of need.  Aside from Florence, it's not like I-95 goes through/near any populated areas.

Honestly, they know this and they have expanded the highways there many times only to meet or exceed with more traffic, it's a constant battle.

Lack of roadway access control and sprawling development patterns are the two key reasons here.

[PColumbus73]

If you spend enough time in Myrtle Beach, you will notice that the area depends on only a handful of roads to get in and out. If it weren't for US 17, 501, SC 9 and 22, the entire Grand Strand would be severed from the outside world. So, it's really no wonder why traffic getting into this area is so bad, especially on 17 which is the only north-south highway in many places along the beach.

If I-73/74 doesn't get built for a while, I could see an I-195 connecting to Myrtle Beach (temporary or permanent).

I would rather just have I-73 come to Myrtle Beach than both 73/74. Since I-74 is supposed to go to Wilmington first, it wouldn't make sense because after reaching Wilmington, eastbound 74 would have to go south-WEST to reach Myrtle Beach. (Personally, I'd leave I-74 up north, 73 is good enough.)

[WashuOtaku]

I would rather just have I-73 come to Myrtle Beach than both 73/74. Since I-74 is supposed to go to Wilmington first, it wouldn't make sense because after reaching Wilmington, eastbound 74 would have to go south-WEST to reach Myrtle Beach. (Personally, I'd leave I-74 up north, 73 is good enough.)

I-74 is not being routed to Wilmington; it is preliminary mapped to go south from Bolton, in parallel to NC 211, to Shallotte.  It will then either overlap with US 17 or parallel it to the north into South Carolina.  There is a lot of swamp land here, so its no surprise its been pushed out to not happen anytime soon.  But no, it will not go to Wilmington.

[PColumbus73]

Even if I-74 just goes to Bolton, NC, I-74 would still have to go south (and slightly west) to reach SC Route 31, where 74 is slated to connect to. I still don't see the justification of having both I-73 and 74 coming to Myrtle Beach.

[NE2]

The I-74 routing is pure pork: http://www.ncdot.gov/projects/i74feasibility/download/i74_feasibility_study_report.pdf

The regional goal of the Governor's plan is to provide an economic boost for the area with this new interstate (I-74) in conjunction with other projects such as interstate I-20 and the extension of the Wilmington Outer Loop. The addition of the proposed I-74 interstate in southeastern North Carolina will be an excellent upgrade to North Carolina's transportation infrastructure and should improve safety and efficiency as well as ignite long-term economic growth in this area of our state.

There are no destinations for which the NC 211 corridor is more direct than NC 130, and using proposed I-74 over I-73 or simply staying with US 74 to US 17 is beneficial for very few destinations: basically only the coast between Southport (where US 17 is only 8 miles longer) and Shallotte (or the state line if I-74 were built along NC 130).

[Strider]

Yeah, I agree. SCDOT's priority should be to focus on extending SC 22 (Future I-73 or I-95's 3di) up to I-95 and then end there until I-73 is extended north from there to the NC state line. I understand funding stinks down there, at least they are making a very little process, which is better than nothing.

I don't like the idea of having I-74 going east of I-95 then going southeast, then southwest towards Myrtle Beach. It should just go to Wilmington.

I never understood why SCDOT didn't use SC 9 and upgrade it to I-73 at the first place? SC 9 is 4 lanes all the way and I am sure they can make it work (build frontage roads on both sides of the road and the center road with a jersey median).

[roadman65]

Yeah, I agree. SCDOT's priority should be to focus on extending SC 22 (Future I-73 or I-95's 3di) up to I-95 and then end there until I-73 is extended north from there to the NC state line. I understand funding stinks down there, at least they are making a very little process, which is better than nothing.

I don't like the idea of having I-74 going east of I-95 then going southeast, then southwest towards Myrtle Beach. It should just go to Wilmington.

I never understood why SCDOT didn't use SC 9 and upgrade it to I-73 at the first place? SC 9 is 4 lanes all the way and I am sure they can make it work (build frontage roads on both sides of the road and the center road with a jersey median).

It is too easy for them to do that is why.

[msubulldog]

Upgrade existing US 17 between Savannah and Norfolk as part of Interstate 101, that would go north from Norfolk along existing US 13 to Wilmington.

[Molandfreak]

I suppose I just don't get it... Why on earth is the I-74 doubleback necessary? If they wanted to create something straight to Wilmington, I would get that. But if anyone with a brain were at Rockingham and wanted to go to Myrtle Beach, they would take I-73, assuming both routes get finished. U.S. 74 and 76 to Wilmington are also arguably easier to upgrade to an interstate than 130 or 211.

I would much rather just have U.S. 74 west of Rockingham, and maybe U.S. 17 between Wilmington and Myrtle Beach upgraded. This porky routing is absolute nonsense and seems as if it were imagined by three-year-olds who were given a challenge of making I-74 as long as possible. If upgrading 130 or 211 is necessary, why don't they try a four-lane expressway out for size first?

[NE2]

Same reason Nam happened: pooliticians don't know how to pull out.

[Henry]

I suppose I just don't get it... Why on earth is the I-74 doubleback necessary? If they wanted to create something straight to Wilmington, I would get that. But if anyone with a brain were at Rockingham and wanted to go to Myrtle Beach, they would take I-73, assuming both routes get finished. U.S. 74 and 76 to Wilmington are also arguably easier to upgrade to an interstate than 130 or 211.

I would much rather just have U.S. 74 west of Rockingham, and maybe U.S. 17 between Wilmington and Myrtle Beach upgraded. This porky routing is absolute nonsense and seems as if it were imagined by three-year-olds who were given a challenge of making I-74 as long as possible. If upgrading 130 or 211 is necessary, why don't they try a four-lane expressway out for size first?

It's a shame that I-74 isn't going to Wilmington; that would be a far more logical end point than Myrtle Beach. Not to mention the sad fact that the I-20 extension isn't happening anytime soon. And Charlotte desperately lacks an east-west Interstate corridor (I'm looking at you, I-85!), so a freeway connection to Rockingham should to the trick. Along with the planned upgrades further west, you could one day drive from Asheville to Wilmington nonstop without having to use I-40!

[PColumbus73]

As I've said, I strongly think I-74 should not be brought south of Ohio, resign the I-74 section that goes through Mt. Airy and Winston-Salem an I-x73 or I-73 itself, the US 74 segment could be I-34 (or another suitable number) and connect that from Charlotte to at least I-95. Forgive the splash at fictional here, just a thought.