South Carolina Highway 22

This article is about the South Carolina highway. For proposed New Hampshire highway, see Conway Bypass (New Hampshire). For the Maryland highway, see Interstate 70 in Maryland#Korean War Veterans Highway.

SC 22
Conway Bypass/Veterans Highway
Route information
Maintained by SCDOT
Length:	39 mi (63 km)
Existed:	2001 – present
Major junctions
East end:	US 17 near Briarcliffe Acres
	SC 31 near N. Myrtle Beach SC 90 near N. Myrtle Beach SC 905 near Conway US 701 near Homewood SC 319 near Conway
West end:	US 501 near Conway
Location
Counties:	Horry
Highway system
South Carolina highways ← US 21 SC 23 →

South Carolina Highway 22, also known as the Conway Bypass and Veterans Highway, is a four lane freeway that connects U.S. 501 north of Conway, South Carolina to U.S. 17 in Myrtle Beach. The road was opened to traffic on May 4, 2001, six months ahead of schedule. There is speculation that this could become part of Interstate 73 in the near future. The road lacks lights and uses the interstate-style exits and entrances, but the shoulders on the bypass are not wide enough to support interstate traffic and need widening to support the increase in traffic.^{[citation needed]}

History

Path of SC Highway 22

In 1994, the original contract with Fluor Daniel called for six lanes from U.S. 17 to SC 905 and four lanes the rest of the way to U.S. 501. This money depended on a one-cent sales tax devoted to road funding, but voters turned that down.^[1]

A bridge was built over the Intracoastal Waterway near Briarcliffe Acres, but it remained the "Bridge to Nowhere" for three years because there was no money to build the road. In February 1999, the South Carolina Senate passed a bill naming the bridge for Billy Alford, state highway commissioner from 1990 to 1994 and commission chair in 1993.^[2]

On February 24, 1999, the South Carolina Department of Transportation Commission approved $95 million to make the bypass four lanes. Two years earlier, since money was short, the bypass had been reduced to two lanes beyond SC 90, though the $291.3 million project had six lanes to SC 31.

Even with the changes, the road would end up being cheaper than planned because of narrower shoulders and bridges, and more bridges over wetlands.^[1]

On March 4, 1999, The Joint Bond Review Committee approved selling bonds for the money approved in February. Widening the bridges was considered, since some believed that the road could need six lanes in only a few years.^[3]

In June 2000, the first section of the Conway Bypass opened 17 months sooner than expected despite flooding from Hurricane Floyd. In November 2000, the section from SC 90 to SC 905, including a 29-foot-high bridge over the Waccamaw River, opened 13 months sooner than planned. The final section opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony in May 2001.^[4]

In 2003, the South Carolina General Assembly approved a resolution asking that the Conway Bypass be designated I-73.^[5]

Exit list

The entire route is in the unincorporated Horry County.

Location	Mile	Destinations	Notes
Aynor	0.0	US 501 – Aynor, Marion, Conway	Western terminus
	4.3	SC 319 – Aynor, Homewood
Homewood	7.6	US 701 – Loris, Conway
Hickory Grove	18.5	SC 905 – Longs, Conway
Wampee	22.6	SC 90 – Nixonville, Star Bluff Crossroads
N. Myrtle Beach	26.5	SC 31 – Carolina Forest, Little River	Full Interchange
Bridge across the Intracoastal Waterway
Briarcliffe Acres	28.3	Kings Rd. US 17 – Atlantic Beach, Myrtle Beach	Westbound exit only;Eastern terminus

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Zane Wilson, "DOT commits $95 million for Conway Bypass lanes," The Sun News, February 25, 1999.
2. ^ Zane Wilson, "Bridge to Nowhere to Get Name," The Sun News, February 22, 1999.
3. ^ Zane Wilson, "South Carolina Approves Bond Sale to Pay for Conway Bypass," The Sun News, March 5, 1999.
4. ^ "Conway Bypass / Veterans Highway (SC 22), SC, USA". http://www.roadtraffic-technology.com/projects/conway/. Retrieved 2010-03-30. 
5. ^ "Bill 291, South Carolina General Assembly, 115th Session, 2003-2004". http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess115_2003-2004/bills/291.htm. Retrieved 2010-03-30. 

External links