Carolina Bays Parkway (SC 31)

[wdcrft63]

Right now I don't hear anyone in Wilmington or in Brunswick County advocating an interstate upgrade from I-140 to the SC line. However, if the CBP is extended interstate quality to Supply, then the issue is bound to come up. The Bolivia Bypass can easily be upgraded to interstate status and that would leave only two relative short pieces north and south of Bolivia to be upgraded or replaced.

[sprjus4]

Right now I don't hear anyone in Wilmington or in Brunswick County advocating an interstate upgrade from I-140 to the SC line. However, if the CBP is extended interstate quality to Supply, then the issue is bound to come up. The Bolivia Bypass can easily be upgraded to interstate status and that would leave only two relative short pieces north and south of Bolivia to be upgraded or replaced.

The Carolina Bays Parkway extension would connect to the Shallote bypass only. It's not planned to continue to Supply or Bolivia at this point.

Logically though, once the extension to Shallote is constructed, and with ever increasing traffic volumes on US-17, it's inevitable that remaining segment north to I-140 be upgraded to limited access.

[bob7374]

Resurrecting this topic, since NCDOT and SCDOT are hosting a public information meeting about it on Sept. 30. The webpage has a link to a map of the preferred alternative, which is from 2020, the last time I think they had a meeting. I don't know if this was SCDOT's or NCDOT's idea. The Extension project was not funded in the latest NCDOT 2026-2035 STIP:
https://www.ncdot.gov/news/public-meetings/Pages/P029554-2025-08-22.aspx

[PColumbus73]

Resurrecting this topic, since NCDOT and SCDOT are hosting a public information meeting about it on Sept. 30. The webpage has a link to a map of the preferred alternative, which is from 2020, the last time I think they had a meeting. I don't know if this was SCDOT's or NCDOT's idea. The Extension project was not funded in the latest NCDOT 2026-2035 STIP:
https://www.ncdot.gov/news/public-meetings/Pages/P029554-2025-08-22.aspx

I might be able to attend.

[The Ghostbuster]

I like the routing of the preferred alternative listed: Alternative 4.

[Henry]

Given that many state highways keep their numbers while crossing the border between the two states, will there be an NC 31 if and when the Parkway is extended? I like to think so.

[The Ghostbuster]

As I have stated before, I think Interstate 74 should end in Wilmington, and the Carolina Bays Parkway should remain NC/SC 31. Since 31 ends at SC 707 and does not extend to US 17 on the southern end, I would be fine leaving the CBP a state highway permanently.

[CanesFan27]

Given that many state highways keep their numbers while crossing the border between the two states, will there be an NC 31 if and when the Parkway is extended? I like to think so.

Way too early to tell.

[PColumbus73]

Given that many state highways keep their numbers while crossing the border between the two states, will there be an NC 31 if and when the Parkway is extended? I like to think so.

It looks like 31 is available in North Carolina, so seems logical to continue it.

[Alex4897]

Since 31 ends at SC 707 and does not extend to US 17 on the southern end, I would be fine leaving the CBP a state highway permanently.

Is this intended to be the case permanently? The interchange at SC 707 doesn't have any indication that an extension is in the cards, but US 17 is less than 2 miles from the current terminus of the parkway on the other side of what seems at a glance like an unprotected forest. It seems like a pretty bizarre gap to deliberately leave in the road network.

[PColumbus73]

Since 31 ends at SC 707 and does not extend to US 17 on the southern end, I would be fine leaving the CBP a state highway permanently.

Is this intended to be the case permanently? The interchange at SC 707 doesn't have any indication that an extension is in the cards, but US 17 is less than 2 miles from the current terminus of the parkway on the other side of what seems at a glance like an unprotected forest. It seems like a pretty bizarre gap to deliberately leave in the road network.

From what I understand, the plan was for SC 31 to tie into the SC 22 extension (formerly proposed as the SELL highway) toward Surfside Beach. I'm not sure if this is still the plan. If so, it might have to be under a future RIDE sales tax when the SC 22 extension is built.

[PColumbus73]

https://www.ncdot.gov/projects/carolina-bays-parkway/Pages/default.aspx

Because of the threat of Imelda, the Public Information Meetings are rescheduled for October 20 and October 23.

Oct. 20, 2025 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
North Strand Recreational Center
120 State Highway 57 South
Longs, SC

Oct. 23, 2025 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Sea Trail Convention Center
75-A Clubhouse Road
Sunset Beach

[The Ghostbuster]

Once the CBP is completed to US 74/76, it could be utilized as a hurricane evacuation corridor. You can never have too many of those.

[RoadMaster09]

Are there any plans to extend it farther southwest towards Georgetown and Charleston? I know US 17 is hopelessly congested between Myrtle Beach and Georgetown, particularly through Murrells Inlet and Pawleys Island, and there is no room to upgrade or expand it there.

One major challenge is that it would have to cross the Pee Dee and Waccamaw Rivers on a causeway or bridge, which would be quite expensive. It's the only option due to development.

[sprjus4]

Are there any plans to extend it farther southwest towards Georgetown and Charleston? I know US 17 is hopelessly congested between Myrtle Beach and Georgetown, particularly through Murrells Inlet and Pawleys Island, and there is no room to upgrade or expand it there.

One major challenge is that it would have to cross the Pee Dee and Waccamaw Rivers on a causeway or bridge, which would be quite expensive. It's the only option due to development.

I still am of the opinion they should cross the Waccamaw River just south of of the SC-544 interchange, then follow the existing US-701 alignment through the Pee Dee River wetland. South of there, construct a new alignment parallel to US-701, upgrade US-701 itself to a freeway, or just widen US-701 to 4 lanes depending on traffic volumes.

[The Ghostbuster]

I'm afraid that SC 707 will be the CBP's permanent southern terminus. I think it should have at least been constructed to US 17, but one will have to use other roads to connect with US 17.

[PColumbus73]

Are there any plans to extend it farther southwest towards Georgetown and Charleston? I know US 17 is hopelessly congested between Myrtle Beach and Georgetown, particularly through Murrells Inlet and Pawleys Island, and there is no room to upgrade or expand it there.

One major challenge is that it would have to cross the Pee Dee and Waccamaw Rivers on a causeway or bridge, which would be quite expensive. It's the only option due to development.

I'm pretty confident that SC 31 will not extend outside Horry County.

But, I do believe that when the SC 22 extension (originally called the SELL (Southern Evacuation Lifeline), that the plan would be for SC 31 to have a minor extension to meet it. SC 22 is expected to end at US 17 near Glenns Bay / Holmestown Road.