Wednesday night, people who live in Carolina Forest spoke with the Horry County Planning and Zoning director and the Ride III project manager about the Carolina Forest Boulevard widening.
It’s tough getting out in the morning with the school traffic and whatnot,” said Michael Lobes, who lives in Carolina Forest.
If you ask people who live in Carolina Forest about the Boulevard, you’re likely to get a similar answer.
“The widening of Carolina Forest Boulevard is long overdue,” said Lobes.
The Horry County Planning and Zoning director and the Ride III project manager updated everyone at Wednesday night’s Carolina Forest Civic Association meeting.
“I’m here mainly for the Carolina Forest widening,” said Lobes. “It’s just, they need to start it.”
The construction for the widening is still set to begin in June, according to Horry County Planning and Zoning director David Schwerd.
“I was told they were going to let the contract out in April or May, they were going to start construction, and I’ve seen nothing out here,” said Lobes.
They’ll add turn lanes and signal lights. Contractors have 700 days to complete the project.
Lobes hopes the added lanes will reduce congestion.
“There’s just too much traffic,” he said. “You have a lot of cut-through traffic, they’re building out here, they’re putting another 800 units down the street across from The Farm. It’s just going to be ridiculous.”
Construction on other Ride III projects like widening Highway 501 is set to begin next Spring, and extending Postal Way will begin next Summer.
Schwerd says the speed limit on the road will not increase. The plan to extend Middle Ridge Avenue is in the design stages now.
The Carolina Forest Boulevard widening project alone totals more than $54 million.
