In Horry County: Fix it First, Don’t Make it Worse

UPDATE: Coastal Conservation League will continue raising concerns about destructive new highways in Horry County 

The passing of the Horry County Special Sales and Use Tax means that rural western Horry and Georgetown counties will be opened to sprawling development, families will lose their farmland, communities will be divided, flooding impacts will worsen, and our public conservation lands will be compromised.  

The Coastal Conservation League is disappointed in the outcome of the Horry County Special Sales and Use Tax and stands strong that the negative effects of these new highway projects — I-73 and the SC Highway 22 Extension — would be permanent and far-reaching. 

Many community members stood up for Horry County’s rural character and environment, writing postcards, putting out yard signs, posting on social media, submitting letters to the editor, and speaking to friends and family about the importance of voting no. 

The Conservation League and these partners will: 

• Continue to raise concerns about these destructive new highways,
• Keep up the fight during the SC Hwy 22 Extension Environmental Impact Statement process,
• Advocate against state and federal funding for I-73,
• Push for prioritizing our existing roads, and
• Support smarter growth, including walkable communities, mass transit, and bike and pedestrian infrastructure to reduce our traffic congestion. 

We will continue to speak up for our public conservation lands, our farms, our communities, and the future of Horry County. 

Horry County Special Sales and Use Tax (Local Question 1)

This November, Horry County residents voted on a transportation sales tax that will last for 25 years and cost $6.35 billion. The bulk of funds will go toward building new, unnecessary, and destructive roads instead of improving existing roads and bridges in need of repair.

The negative effects of these new highway projects—I-73 and the SC Highway 22 Extension—will be permanent and far-reaching.

READ MORE FROM MY HORRY NEWS >> A Brand New RIDE? Southern Connector would link Aynor and Surfside but fragment a precious habitat

Interstate 73 would cost over $2 billion, but this tax would only cover $450 million of that. Horry County would need billions in additional state and federal funding. Since this seems far-reaching, the tax dollars of Horry County residents for the next 25 years are much better spent fixing existing roads. Horry County is growing too fast to be able to predict now what will be needed in 25 years.

I-73 would cut through the Little Pee Dee River and the Little Pee Dee Heritage Preserve. Earlier this year, the Little Pee Dee river was named one of America’s Most Endangered Rivers because of this threat. America’s Most Endangered Rivers® identifies rivers at a crossroads, where key decisions in the coming months will determine the rivers’ fates. Looming highway development and poor resource management has put this river at risk, threatening critical habitat for endangered fish and wildlife, as well as impacting public safety for adjacent communities. LEARN MORE

I-73 would also take land from family farms in Dillon, Marion, and Horry Counties. 

I-73 would worsen flooding in communities already struggling with flooding impacts.

The SC Highway 22 Extension, formally known as SELL, would be a 28-mile, 4-lane highway. The route for this road is only tentatively planned, with 16 options. No matter what, this highway would open western Horry and Georgetown Counties to sprawling development, destroying some of the region’s most pristine areas. Voters are being asked to vote on a road that is only tentatively planned with no clear route but definite damages.

Hwy 22 Ext. would open rural western Horry and Georgetown counties to sprawling development.

Hwy 22 Ext. would directly impact two settlement communities: Bucksport and Burgess. At least 10 of the 16 proposed routes would bisect these communities.

Hwy 22 Ext. would put a bridge across the Waccamaw River, adding pollutants into the river and damaging hundreds of acres of protected wetlands in the Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge.

Hwy 22 Ext. would worsen flooding in communities already struggling with flooding impacts.

Both would create additional traffic issues across the county. New roads in rural parts of the county mean new development and new traffic. Hwy 22 Ext. would also send cars into already congested intersections.

HORRY COUNTY: ON THE BALLOT

VOTE NO to protect communities and wetlands

AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BALLOT, UNDER LOCAL QUESTIONS, VOTE “NO, OPPOSED TO QUESTION” ON QUESTION 1