I-73 acquisition plans for Dillon County detailed

LATTA — Some Dillon County residents living near the proposed Interstate 73 corridor discovered Tuesday their property and that of their neighbors are in the path of the planned interstate.

The S.C. Department of Transportation conducted a public information meeting at Latta High School so residents could learn more about the proposed southern section of I-73 and the right-of-way plans, said Mitchell Metts, SCDOT’s director of preconstruction for the project.

Dillon County is the site of I-73/I-95 interchange and two interstate flyovers that would limit the amount of land affected by the project.

Right-of-way plans involve the property required to build the road and accommodate the footprint of the interstate, Metts said.

About 120 properties in Dillon County will have to purchased for the project, he said.

The interstate will run about halfway between S.C. 38 and S.C. 34 in Dillon County, Metts said.

“We are going to show them the road and how we route it through the community and how it impacts any property it crosses,” he said.

At the meeting, SCDOT provided large aerial maps with the names of property owners with land in or near the path of the interstate and provided a video animation of its plans for the roadway.

Attendees were encouraged to leave comments with officials about what they thought of the project.

“We’ve had public meetings in this area for quite some time,” said Deborah Harwell, a spokeswoman for the project. “A lot of the people in this area have been to meetings before this.”

Residents with property affected by the I-73 project were notified by letter beforehand, Harwell said.

“This is really a big deal. This is the first section of I-73 that will be built in the state,” she said.

The interstate, from Myrtle Beach to Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., could take at least 10 years to complete. It would cross six states — Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia and the Carolinas — and traverse 80 miles in four South Carolina counties: Marlboro, Dillon, Marion and Horry. It also would be the first interstate link to Myrtle Beach, the heart of the state’s $16 billion tourism industry.

Most Dillon County residents at Tuesday’s meeting were curious about the project, but some with property in the right-of-way were concerned or downright angry.

One resident became visibly upset after seeing that part of the land she’d inherited from her late parent would have to be purchased for the project. She also told SCDOT officials she was concerned because an aerial image showed the interstate going directly through her elderly neighbor’s house.

Others questioned SCDOT officials about how much they might be paid for their land and homes.

The SCDOT Commission approved a resolution May 21 to redirect available funds to purchase right-of-way and advance the permitting process for construction of the I-73/I-95 interchange in Dillon County even though there isn’t any funding for the entire project.

About $60 million is available for this effort in addition to the $10 million that will be redirected from the State Infrastructure Bank, according to an agreement between the State Infrastructure Bank and Horry County approved in May.

On May 13, the North Eastern Strategic Alliance approved using stimulus funds to build a 6-mile stretch of I-73 from Interstate 95 to U.S. 501 in Dillon County. NESA is a regional economic development organization that serves nine counties: Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon, Florence, Georgetown, Horry, Marion, Marlboro and Williamsburg. Its executive committee voted Feb. 13 to spend $50,000 to coordinate efforts for securing stimulus money for building I-73.

A report from Coastal Carolina University released Jan. 29 estimates the project could have an impact of $4.1 billion over a five-year timeline.

The estimated cost to build the interstate is $2.4 billion for the South Carolina part alone, however.“We don’t have money for the project, but we are right at the doorstep,” Harwell said.

The property acquisition portion of the project is expected to begin later this year, Metts said.

The government has the right to take private property because of imminent domain for the public benefit, he said.

SCDOT will perform an appraisal of the property and try to come to an agreement with the landowner, Metts said.

If an agreement can’t be reached, then the landowner and agency officials would have to appear in court for condemnation proceedings, he said.

For more information about I-73, visit www.I73.com online or call (866) 924-7374.