WMBFNews.com | Myrtle Beach/Florence, SC | News, Weather, SportsState waits for word on I-73 funding

State waits for word on I-73 funding

By Kyle Grainger - bio | email

MYRTLE BEACH, SC  (WMBF) - The South Carolina Department of Transportation is waiting to hear word of whether or not South Carolina will get any of the requested $300 million that would allow for the start of construction on Interstate 73.

The federal transportation secretary had said that he expected to make an announcement about the grant funds in late January, but now says the announcement could come by mid-February.

"We hope there will be sufficient funding to bring I-73 out of the ground at I-95 and I-73," said Rep. Allen Clemmons.  "Many will remember the 'Bridge to Nowhere' up in North Myrtle Beach. Once it was built, although there was no money to connect it to anything, once it was built we were able to attain the funding and finish building what is now SC-22.

South Carolina is looking to use $300 million in federal grant money to build an interchange in Dillon County at I-95.  It's a move they say would help put many people back to work in the Pee Dee and get the ball rolling for progress to connect Myrtle Beach to an interstate highway.

"The Tiger Grant would be the catalyst that would allow us to [use] the existing moneys that we have compiled together. We'd probably get the interchange at I-95 built and bring it on down to Latta," said Danny Issac, SCDOT commissioner. "In the interim, we've been purchasing up right of way as hard and fast as we could, so right now it's all about funding."

Issac says the $300 million won't nearly pay to build the entire road from I-95 into Horry County and connect it with SC-22, but that it would show that progress is being made and hopefully more funding for 73 in the future.

"We're looking forward to the infrastructure hitting the ground, once that hits the ground, you'll be able to see additional work begin to blossom," Clemmons added. "We're talking about a $2 billion road. It's an expensive road."

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