Horry County officials posted signs indicating where work will begin on the $592 million road project plan known as Ride III.
The Ride III penny sales tax went into effect in May of 2017 to fund 14 road projects in Horry County. Signs are now posted at each of those project sites to inform people that those projects are underway. According to county spokesperson Kelly Moore, nine of those projects are currently in the design phase.
“While the signs are up now you won’t necessarily see major construction work starting right away. Most of these projects are in the design phase so engineers will be on site doing some surveying work,” she said.
Moore said the completion dates for each of the Ride III projects will be determined during the design phase. However, she said the Carolina Forest Boulevard widening and Highway 31 extension to the state line are further along than the other projects.
“On Carolina Forest Boulevard, our public works crews are out there they’re going ahead and clearing some land for utility relocation so you may see some small projects starting around those sites,” said Moore.
Walter Goffigan has lived off of Carolina Forest Boulevard for 12 years. He said traffic congestion there has gotten worse over time.
“With all the school traffic and all the people moving here, it’s really hard to get across. Sometimes you’ll sit coming out of Southgate for 15-20 minutes trying to get across,” he said.
While he’s encouraged by the signs of progress, he’s hoping he won’t have to wait too much longer to see improvements.
“Hopefully it doesn’t take two years to get it done. Especially this part up front where everyone’s coming in from 501 trying to get home in the afternoons,” Goffigan said.
For a full list of all the Ride III road projects and the projected schedules for each site, click here.
