CONWAY, SC (WBTW) – Horry County Council denied the Ride III Commission’s request to use excess money from the state’s refund on three extra road projects within the Ride III program; however the projects most likely will still get accomplished.
Ride III Commission Chairman, Eddie Dyer, says the total cost of roads in need of repair or to be built within the county is $1.94 billion. However, the Ride III budget is $590 million; only a little more than a quarter of that total cost.
On Tuesday, Dyer requested Horry County Council allow Ride III money be shifted towards other projects.
Dyer wants to use about $30 million that was intended to extend Highway 31 to North Carolina instead to fund three new road projects he says are in desperate need.
He says it would take 2-3 years for the Ocean Creeks turn lane, and the widening of Sea Mountain Highway from Highway 9 to Nixon Crossroads and the widening of Kings Road at Chestnut hill.
Dyer suggested using the money the county gets from the state refund to then go back towards the Highway 31 extension; which he says won’t be completed for 6-8 years.
But Horry County Council Chairman Mark Lazarus says there is a problem with that plan.
“I don’t want to jeopardize the project in the Ride III program by trying to allocate money we don’t know we’re going to get,” he said.
Because there is no promised dollar amount from the state’s refund, Lazarus suggests using the Ride III commission in a different way.
With whatever excess funds the county gets from the refund, Lazarus wants the commission to directly select roads to get repairs without the “Ride Program” process.
And not just the roads Dyer mentioned, but any roads in need.
“It puts council on notice don’t start looking at this money for other projects. We’re using it for road projects,” said Lazarus.
On February 18th, the Ride III Commission will have a meeting. Dyer says he would like to have a finalized list of roads to take out for community input by that date.
However, even with this list, nothing is set in stone until council’s approval followed by the public’s vote next November.