Last Updated on 12/1/2008

Published on 5/11/2008

By Clayton Stairs

cstairs@gtowntimes.com

In the near future, U.S. Highway 17 Business in Murrells Inlet may be much more accommodating to people on bicycles.

With the completion of the Murrells Inlet Bike Bridge, which connects the bike lane adjacent to Highway 17 Business with a bike trail which meanders all the way to Litchfield, there has been a noticeable increase in bicycle traffic. To accommodate this increase, representatives of Murrells Inlet 2007 and Earthworks Design Firm, and officials from the S.C. Department of Transportation (SCDOT) have come together to find a solution.

Kelly Dorman announced to her fellow Murrells Inlet 2007 Board members at their regular meeting Wednesday, May 7 that plans are in the works for improvements to allow for an eight-foot-wide bike path along Highway 17 Business after a recent meeting between these entities. She stated that the consensus was that this would be more suitable for capacity and safety of bicyclists in the area.

Increased bike traffic

She says that Murrells Inlet 2007 Executive Director Sue Sledz counted more than 75 bicyclists using the four-foot path adjacent to Highway 17 Business on a regular weekday.

"Nobody realizes how many people use that bike lane," Dorman said. "The bicycle traffic is even heavier on weekends and holidays."

She added that SCDOT officials have said that widening the bike lane adjacent to the road is out of the question because car drivers already mistakenly use that lane as a passing lane. They also will not approve rumble strips along the edge to deter vehicles from entering the bike lane or paint stick figures in the lanes.

"The good news is that SCDOT has agreed to a sidewalk for walkers, which would be separate from a bike path," Dorman said. "It could either be adjacent to the bike path or on the other side of the Highway."

Earthworks President Steve Strickland has agreed to work pro-bono to draw up some preliminary plans in the next couple weeks for the proposed path. His firm also designed and engineered the Murrells Inlet Marsh Walk pier.

"We are typically involved with Murrells Inlet 2007 projects because we live here and it is important to us to contribute," Strickland said. "It is more of a labor of love for me."

He says that once the plans are more solidified, his firm will be among the bidders to become the engineers for the project.

The plan so far

At this point, Strickland says the plans his firm creates must be flexible to accommodate any unforeseen problems or lack of funding for the project. They are now looking at the possibility of an eight-foot-wide bike path with a three- or four-foot buffer between the path and the road.

They are also planning for a five-foot-wide sidewalk on the opposite side of the road. Strickland says that although there is a 75-foot right of way along Highway 17 Business, there will definitely be conflicts with parking and other obstructions in some areas, especially the business district.

"That allows for 25 feet for vehicle traffic, from white line to white line, and 25 feet on either side of the road," Strickland said. "With an eight-foot bike path and a four-foot vegetative buffer, that still leaves plenty of room. That will work in a lot of places, but there are a few places where it won't."

One problem is that many of the restaurants along Highway 17 Business have parking areas in the right of way, and some buildings are even built into this reserved area. For these sections, Strickland says they are coming up with plans for alternate routes for those bicyclists who would like to take in the scenery.

These include Wesley Road, Old Kings Highway and Murrells Inlet Road. He explains that these alternative routes will not necessarily have bike paths or bike lanes, but since they are less traveled, motorists can share the road.

Other business

* The Board voted to discontinue keeping official track of volunteer hours. Over the last few months, volunteer coordinator and Board member Sue Peters has suggested board members and other volunteers keep track of their hours on a chart.

This system was one method proposed to allow the Board to choose future volunteers of the year. Board members agreed that this system is much too involved for them to keep up with and they stated that volunteers of the year are usually obvious to everyone without knowing how many hours they have worked.

* The Board voted unanimously to approve approximately $500 for landscaping of Luther's Garden on the south end of the inlet. Creekside Landscaping is in charge of the project which involves replacing the sprinkler system under the flower beds by the south end Murrells Inlet sign and adding pipes for lawn irrigation in front of the sign.