CAROLINA FOREST, SC- The Horry County School District closed on a plot of land in Carolina Forest to build a middle school.
The new school will be located off Carolina Forest Boulevard, behind Plantation Storage. Carolina Forest Civic Association President Dennis DiSabato said the area is growing and in need of another school, but it could lead to more traffic in an already congested area.
“The two things go hand and hand we’re going to need some roads as much as we’re going to need some schools,” he said.
Horry County’s Ride III Advisory Committee meets Thursday to discuss potential capital improvement projects. Bo Ives represents Carolina Forest on the committee. Ives will present three priority projects. He said all of the projects are designed to help alleviate traffic in the area.
One idea involves the extension of Augusta Plantation Drive to Carolina Forest Boulevard and building an interchange at S.C. 31. The site of the new middle school lies along the proposed extension route. Ives said extending Augusta Plantation Drive is a “game changer” in Carolina’s Forest’s infrastructure in terms of interconnectivity and decreasing traffic.
“It would give us more access to some of the other areas which are somewhat inconvenient to get to at this point,” said Carolina Forest resident Harold Lord.
DiSabato said while the extension would help with congestion, widening Carolina Forest Boulevard is a better option. According to DiSabato, the Civic Association has been looking at widening Carolina Forest Boulevard to at least four lanes for years. He also said the new middle school won’t be the only new school located on the road.
“We’re going to have the Catholic High School on Carolina Forest Boulevard as well,” stated DiSabato. Horry
County School Board Chairman Joe DeFeo told News 13 the district also purchased land across from the middle school that could be the site of an elementary school. DeFeo said the new middle school is planned to open in time for the 2017-2018 school year.
