State DOT agrees to fund land purchases for I-73 corridor
Last Updated on 3/19/2010
Published on 5/31/2009
* Interstate will boost Georgetown economy in long term
By Tommy Howard
thoward@gtowntimes.com
"This I-73 is the greatest boost we could have had," Sen. Yancey McGill said on Sunday.
He spoke with the Georgetown Times about decisions over the past couple of weeks to help secure funding for the long-discussed I-73.
The state Department of Transportation Commission on May 21 decided to target some $64 million right now for land acquisition for highway rights-of-way.
McGill, D-Kingstree, said you've got to start somewhere, and the starting point for construction of I-73 will be the "Interchange of Hope" along I-95 near Dillon. That interchange and the first leg to be designated a part of I-73 will run six miles in Dillon County.
"All of the environmental impact studies have been done," he said. Now, DOT will work on surveying and buying land and working towards getting permits on the various segments of Phase I.
Over the next 10 years or so, McGill and the North Eastern Strategic Alliance (NESA) said, the bridge and road construction for the highway project will lead to 7,500 jobs.
While those jobs themselves will likely not be for many people in Georgetown County, the Interstate Highway will impact the area tremendously, McGill said.
Long road
The new major highway construction will run from Rockingham, N.C. to the northern end of Myrtle Beach. It will end at S.C. Highway 22 at U.S. Highway 17 near the Tanger Outlet.
The Interstate runs or is planned to run from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan through Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina.
In the Palmetto State, the Interstate will eventually go through Marlboro, Dillon, Marion and Horry counties.
McGill said Phase I will run from this first segment near Dillon to Myrtle Beach. Phase II will be done later, and will head from Dillon into North Carolina.
What makes this important for McGill's Georgetown County constituents is the fact that as highways are built in the region, it will make the area more attractive to industry and tourists.
Very active
"In the next 10 to 15 years, the absolute growth will be unusual for our area," McGill said. "We're going to see it very active, very progressive.
"We've got to be very orderly in protecting habitat and the quality of life for our citizens," he said.
McGill serves as chairman of NESA, and said when that nine-county alliance was formed 10 years ago, the focus was established as being regional.
NESA works well with local cities and counties, state agencies, and with members of the South Carolina Congressional Delegation to help the area's economy.
McGill noted that about a thousand to 1,200 people showed up at an appreciation dinner for U.S. Rep. Henry Brown, R-Hanahan, last week.
They did that, McGill said, because "The man's delivered for us. Our Congressional delegation has delivered."
He credited Brown, Reps. Jim Clyburn and John Spratt, and Senators Lindsey Graham and Jim DeMint for working hard for South Carolina interests.
"You're talking about a one-two punch," McGill said. "Those fellows know how to deliver."
Highways help industry
In two days, he said, there will be a major announcement in Florence County that NESA was involved in, as it has been for American Gypsum at Georgetown and Sid Harvey Industries in Andrews.
"The point is, if you don't have highways, you can't get industries in your area."
It's also important to have other infrastructure, a good labor pool, good education and communications. "We look at all of it," McGill said.
Land for the "Interchange of Hope" at I-95 near Dillon will be purchased over the next 12 to 16 months, McGill said.
To build the interchange and that first six-mile segment will take about $200 million, he estimated. That will be a combination of the existing $64 million, federal stimulus funds and regular appropriations through the Federal Highway Administration.
Top priority
"Right now, there is $1.5 billion available under the stimulus plan that is available for 'Highways of Significance'," and I-73 has that designation in South Carolina.
In fact, NESA and the state DOT have given I-73 the top priority in the state. On a national level, McGill said, I-73 is currently ranked Number 5 in the country.
Getting funding for the rest of the I-73 project will be a major effort, McGill acknowledged.
"We will do it segment by segment. We're going to keep the effort."
He noted that NESA, various local governments and chambers of commerce and state legislative delegation members have agreed that the I-73 project is a major interest of this region of the state.
Head through Georgetown
As the highway is built and comes into Myrtle Beach, it will lead travelers to head towards Charleston, as well. That will result in people driving through Georgetown and will create numerous opportunities for tourism and economic development here, he said.
The overall I-73 highway in South Carolina has a projected cost of $2.4 billion.
"This will be the biggest highway built in the history of South Carolina," McGill said he heard a state DOT official say.
While its route of 55 to 60 miles won't be as long as some of the other highways, their costs were far, far less, he said.
"The impact will be on all the surrounding counties," McGill said. He noted that many large industries lead to spin-off companies coming into nearby areas.
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I find the thought of Georgetown somehow benefiting from I73 humorous after it was chased away like various businesses. If I wanted to go to Charleston, I would take I95 to I26. If I was in MB, I would only be annoyed with Georgetown slowing down my trip down Hwy17. If I was a trucker considering I73, would I choose to fight beach traffic to come to Georgetown down Hwy17 and would YOU really want that? Using Hwy701 would not be much better than current options. Posted by Amazed on 6/1/2009 |
