HORRY COUNTY, SC (WBTW) – The Riding on a Penny road construction project is into its third phase, and the project’s advisory committee presented its final recommendations to Horry County Council.
One of the projects on the list is the extension of Palmetto Pointe Boulevard to Big Block Road. The committee believes the extension of Palmetto Pointe will make traveling easier for those who live in the area. Chris Johnson, a resident of a neighborhood off of the road, agrees.
“There’s always going to be pros and cons, but I definitely think the pros here in this situation outweigh the cons, and I think we’re all looking forward to that if it happens,” says Johnson.
The Myrtle Beach resident adds that the extension will give drivers easier access to the businesses off of Hwy 544.
“That’s where all the shopping is for people in this area, and you know, we are going to that Walmart or Kohl’s or Target or whatever, so it definitely gives you a lot easier access to where we’re going to go to the grocery store or to pick up things that we need on a daily basis,” explains Johnson.
The 18 member committee has spent the last several months studying and surveying road needs in Horry County. At a previous meeting, each member submitted three projects for consideration and they are now finalizing that list.
Click the image to the left to see the list of proposed road projects and the cost of each.
Home owners aren’t the only ones excited for the possible expansion on Palmetto Pointe Blvd. Emily Judy, a Marketing Consultant at a community of apartment homes on the road, says making the road easier to travel could mean more interest in residents to her complex.
“[Highway] 17 does get really busy. I wish there was right now more than one way to get to 17 than just the bypass,” explains Judy. “That would be really nice. So yeah, from a selling standpoint we could advertise it only takes them a few minutes to get to work.”
Johnson agrees with the logic, hoping a possible extension of the road would mean an increase in property value for homeowners in the area.
“Anytime when you’re talking about people moving to the area or you’re talking about ease of access to amenities in the area, shopping and dining and things like that, I think it builds interest in that area,” reasons Johnson. “So I think it’ll be good for Palmetto Pointe in general and the value of the homes and people moving here in the future.”
Other road projects on the list include Highway 31/Carolina Bays Parkway extension to the North Carolina line, the Forestbrook and Carolina Forest widening, the perimeter road construction in Conway and the Highway 501 realignment.
