Penny tax builds Horry roads
Martha Hunn/WBTW TV-13
Published: November 13, 2007
Published: November 13, 2007
Moving traffic efficiently on congested Horry County Roads was the focus of a penny sales tax vote last November. Horry County voters said "yes" to that referendum, and started paying the tax in May of 2007.
County and State officials announced Tuesday, the first of that money has come in from the state- $18,000,000, and the money is now at work. Officials set up chairs and a podium Tuesday afternoon at one of the most congested traffic hot spots in Horry County- the back gate of the former Myrtle Beach Air Force Base property.
Traffic backs up on all sides of that intersection at Highway 17 by pass and Highway 707. Lots of homes and retail stores are under development in that area now, sure to put even more pressure on this high traffic area. That intersection is next on the list of priorities for constructing a new, grade separated interchange. Right now, the county is using the money to buy right of way along both roadways, and Horry County Council Chairman Liz Gilland says they'll start building it in 2010, after environmental work is completed. At the same time the interchange at the back gate is underway, another one that residents living along highway 707 are anxious to see come about- the widening of Highway 707 from Enterprise road to the Georgetown County line, including intersection improvements at highway 544. Gilland says you'll be driving on both of those roadway by 2013.
Already county officials say they've started paving 20 miles of county dirt roads, which is listed as the top priority. They've completed resurfacing 12 miles of county roads which is second on the list.
For ongoing updates, go to http://www.ridingonapenny.org
Over the next seven years, $425,539,087 will be raised from your penny tax. Here are the projects the money pays for, listed by priority.
1. $19,600,000: Pave 20 miles of County dirt roads
2. $915,000: Resurface 12 miles of County roads
3. $49,500,000: Construct grade separated interchange at the intersection of U.S. Hwy 17 Bypass and SC Hwy. 707 at the back gate of the Myrtle Beach Air Base
4. $132,250,000: Widen SC Hwy. 707 from Enterprise Road to the County line including intersection improvements at SC Hwy 544
5. $25,750,000: Pave 25 miles of County dirt roads
6. $990,000: Resurface 12 miles of County roads
7. $46,000,000: Construct Aynor overpass
8. $1,035,000: Resurface 12 miles of County roads
9. $76,000,000: Widen Glenns Bay Road to 3 lanes and construct a grade separated interchange at US Hwy. 17 Bypass
10. $1,080,000: Resurface 12 miles of County roads
11. $27,750,000: Pave 25 miles of County dirt roads
12. $1,125,000: Resurface 12 miles of County roads
13. $6,500,000: Pave 2 lanes of International Drive from Carolina Forest to SC Hwy. 90
14. $682,500: Resurface 7 miles of County roads
15. $36,100,000: Pave 30 miles of County dirt roads
Advertisement
View More:
No tags are associated with this article
Not what you're looking for? Try our quick search:
Advertisement