Highway could cut through Black communities near Myrtle Beach | Myrtle Beach News

“Every time there is an accident, there is a huge amount of traffic congestion,” Pruitt said. “This is one of the worst roads in the county in terms of accidents.”

He remembers a recent crash that backed up traffic for miles, making it difficult for people to get in and out of their homes and neighborhoods. It also becomes a public safety issue, he said, as fire and police vehicles even have trouble maneuvering in traffic.

Trapper Fowler of the Coastal Conservation League says he’s not opposed to development as long as it doesn’t affect areas along the Waccamaw River. Ten of the 16 locations of the SC 22 extension show it extending across the river from the Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge in the community of Burgess to the community of Bucksport. Combined with other road improvement projects, voters will be given a choice on the November ballot on a $6.35 billion, 25-year vehicle sales tax.

Janet Morgan/Staff

Another factor influencing the broader discussion of RIDE IV is the 25-year referendum period, which means the tax will be levied continuously from 2025 until 2050. This is different from the last two RIDE programs, which only had seven and eight years. annual collection periods.

After a RIDE IV informational meeting hosted by the Carolina Forest Civic Association in October, Horry County resident Richard McAndrew questioned the 25-year-old collection. He said it’s unclear what the district’s needs will be in 2050, so he favors shorter fundraising periods in the latter two programs.

“It makes more sense to me,” McAndrew said. “If we get stuck for 25 years, there will be no adjustment other than an additional tax.”

Horry County Councilman Dennis DiSabato, who represents the Carolina Forest area, said during a Horry County Council meeting in May that concerns about tax season are misguided.

“Most of the projects on this list (Ride IV) were things we knew about 25 years ago,” he said. “So to think that things will change that much over the next 25 years, I think, is incorrect.”

He added that these projects, such as I-73 and the 22 widening, are trying to ease traffic flow for county residents and prepare for thousands of people moving to the county.

David Gilreath, the county’s assistant administrator for infrastructure and regulatory affairs, said these projects take so long to get permits because they have to take all the issues into account and find a balance.