Editing Interstate 73 (section)

===South Carolina===
{{Main|Interstate 73 in South Carolina}}
[[File:I-73 (Future).svg|70px|right]]
I-73 and I-74 both will begin at [[Myrtle Beach, South Carolina|Myrtle Beach]]. I-74 splits to the northwest to [[Rockingham, North Carolina]].<ref name=rockingham-signing>{{Cite web |url = https://xfer.services.ncdot.gov/dsplan/2019%20Highway%20Letting/10-15-19/Plans%20and%20Proposals/R-3421A_B%20Richmond_Montgomery_34446.3.4_C204368/R-3421A/Standard%20PDF%20Files/250%20Signing%20Plans2.pdf |title = Signing Plans 2 |date = July 5, 2019 |publisher = [[North Carolina Department of Transportation]] |access-date = December 27, 2018 |archive-date = August 31, 2024 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240831031729/https://xfer.services.ncdot.gov/dsplan/2019%20Highway%20Letting/10-15-19/Plans%20and%20Proposals/R-3421A_B%20Richmond_Montgomery_34446.3.4_C204368/R-3421A/Standard%20PDF%20Files/250%20Signing%20Plans2.pdf |url-status = live }}</ref>
Future I-73 will traverse northeastern South Carolina, from the [[Grand Strand]] to [[Bennettsville]]. The current alignment will replace [[South Carolina Highway 22]] (SC&nbsp;22) and run parallel north of [[U.S. Route 501|US&nbsp;501]] and [[South Carolina Highway 38|SC&nbsp;38]]. In June 2017, the [[United States Army Corps of Engineers|US Army Corps of Engineers]] approved permits required to build I-73.

On May 30, 2006, the [[South Carolina Department of Transportation]] (SCDOT) announced its preferred routing of I-73 between Myrtle Beach and [[Interstate 95|I-95]].<ref>{{cite news |title = Conservationists find I-73 route acceptable |work = The Post and Courier |location = Charleston, South Carolina |date = May 31, 2006 |page = B3 |issn = 1061-5105 }}</ref> I-73 will begin where [[South Carolina Highway 22|SC&nbsp;22]] starts at [[U.S. Route 17|US&nbsp;17]] near [[Briarcliffe Acres, South Carolina|Briarcliffe Acres]]. It will then proceed northwesterly, crossing the proposed routing of I-74 (currently [[South Carolina Highway 31|SC&nbsp;31]], the Carolina Bays Parkway). After passing [[Conway, South Carolina|Conway]], I-73 will leave SC&nbsp;22 at a new interchange to be constructed {{convert|2|mi|km|spell=in}} west of [[U.S. Route 701|US&nbsp;701]] and will then use a new highway to be built between SC&nbsp;22 and [[South Carolina Highway 917|SC&nbsp;917]] north of [[Cool Spring, South Carolina|Cool Spring]]. I-73 will then use an upgraded SC&nbsp;917 to cross the [[Little Pee Dee River]]. It will then proceed on a new freeway alignment between SC&nbsp;917 and [[Interstate 95|I-95]]<ref>{{cite news |last = Wilson |first = Zane |title = A Route at Last |work = The Sun News |location = Myrtle Beach, South Carolina |date = May 31, 2006 |page = A1 |oclc = 27119790 }}</ref> that would have an interchange with [[U.S. Route 76|US&nbsp;76]] west of [[Mullins, South Carolina|Mullins]] and then would proceed northwesterly to an exit with [[U.S. Route 501|US&nbsp;501]] near [[Latta, South Carolina|Latta]], passing that city to the south before intersecting I-95 near SC&nbsp;38.<ref>{{cite news |last = Wilson |first = Zane |title = A Route at Last |work = The Sun News |location = Myrtle Beach, SC |date = May 31, 2006 |page = A1 |oclc = 27119790 }}</ref> After crossing I-95, I-73 will use the chosen middle route, {{citation needed span|one of six potential alternative corridors that were studied all of which|date=June 2012}} roughly paralleling SC&nbsp;38 to proceed further north to the North Carolina state line.<ref name=NEIS>{{cite web |author = Staff |url = http://www.i73insc.com/northern_status.shtml |title = I-73 Environmental Impact Study |publisher = [[South Carolina Department of Transportation]] |access-date = August 26, 2012 |archive-date = August 31, 2024 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240831031731/http://www.i73insc.com/northern_status.shtml |url-status = live }}</ref> These alternative corridors were formally announced to the public on September 7, 2006, at a meeting in [[Bennettsville, South Carolina|Bennettsville]]. The number of possible routes was reduced to three, and a final decision on the preferred northern route was announced on July 19, 2007. The central route caused the least disruption to homes, farms, and wetlands.<ref>{{cite news |first = Tonya |last = Root |title = Plan for North Leg Revealed |work = The Sun News |location = Myrtle Beach, South Carolina |date = July 20, 2007 |page = A1 |oclc = 27119790 }}</ref> [[North Carolina Department of Transportation|NCDOT]] and SCDOT previously agreed to an I-73 corridor crossing the state line along SC&nbsp;38 and [[North Carolina Highway 38|NC&nbsp;38]] near [[Hamlet, North Carolina]], on February 11, 2005.<ref name=NEIS/> {{citation needed span|Previously, I-73 had been planned to cross the state line further west, near [[U.S. Route 1 in North Carolina|US&nbsp;1]] south of [[Rockingham, North Carolina]].|date=November 2011}}

In February 2008, the [[record of decision]] (ROD) for the final EIS for the section of I-73 from I-95 to SC&nbsp;22 was signed. An October 22, 2008, ceremony marked the signing of the ROD for the section from near Hamlet to I-95.<ref>{{cite news |title = Ceremony Marks Step Forward for Northern Route of I-73 |work = [[The Morning News (American newspaper)|The Morning News]] |location = Florence, South Carolina |date = October 20, 2008 }}{{page needed|date= August 2012}}</ref>

On November 7, 2011, Myrtle Beach city council member Wayne Gray asked area elected officials to consider using [[Road Improvement and Development Effort]] (RIDE) funds to pay for a portion of I-73.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.thesunnews.com/2011/11/07/2486023/myrtle-beach-horry-county-and.html |title = Myrtle Beach, Horry County and legislators talk I-73, cell phones, taxes and more at joint meeting |last = Anderson |first = Lorena |work = The Sun News |location = Myrtle Beach, South Carolina |date = November 7, 2011 |access-date = November 15, 2011 |oclc = 27119790 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120421081235/http://www.thesunnews.com/2011/11/07/2486023/myrtle-beach-horry-county-and.html |archive-date = April 21, 2012 }}</ref>

In June 2012, Miley and Associates of [[Columbia, South Carolina|Columbia]] recommended improvements to SC&nbsp;38 and US&nbsp;501 to create the Grand Strand Expressway (GSX), a position long held by the Coastal Conservation League, which asked for the study. South Carolina Representative [[Alan D. Clemmons]], head of the National I-73 Corridor Association, said such a plan had been considered but was not likely.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/2012/06/23/2902772/study-favors-updating-existing.html |title = Study Favors Updating Existing Roads Rather than Building Interstate&nbsp;73 |last = Kelley |first = Amanda |work = The Sun News |location = Myrtle Beach, South Carolina |date = June 23, 2012 |access-date = June 26, 2012 |oclc = 27119790 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120626044941/http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/2012/06/23/2902772/study-favors-updating-existing.html |archive-date = June 26, 2012 |url-status = dead }}</ref> Nancy Cave of the Coastal Conservation League reiterated support for upgrading SC&nbsp;38 and US&nbsp;501, along with [[U.S. Route 521|US&nbsp;521]] and [[South Carolina Highway 9|SC&nbsp;9]], after results of a new study were presented at an August 1, 2012, meeting of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce. The study claimed that 90,000&nbsp;people could leave the area 10&nbsp;hours faster in an evacuation with I-73 and [[Southern Evacuation Lifeline]] (SELL) both in place.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/2012/08/01/2973116/new-evacuation-study-has-chamber.html |title = New Evacuation Study Has Chamber Backing, but Critics Say They Have Better Route |last1 = Jones |last2 = Grooms |first1 = Steve |first2 = Vicki |work = The Sun News |location = Myrtle Beach, South Carolina |date = August 1, 2012 |access-date = August 2, 2012 |oclc = 27119790 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120803012505/http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/2012/08/01/2973116/new-evacuation-study-has-chamber.html |archive-date = August 3, 2012 |url-status = dead }}</ref>

The "I-73 Intermediate Traffic and Revenue Study" by C&M Associates, dated February 2016, was to be presented to state transportation officials March 24, 2016, and included upgrades to SC&nbsp;22. [[Road Improvement and Development Effort|RIDE III]], if approved by voters, would also provide funding for the [[Southern Evacuation Lifeline]],<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/news/local/article67875812.html |title = Study links SC 22, southern evacuation route, to build I-73 |last = Hudson |first = Audrey |work = The Sun News |date = March 23, 2016 |access-date = July 25, 2016 |archive-date = August 31, 2024 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240831031741/https://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/news/local/article67875812.html |url-status = live }}</ref> a proposed {{convert|28|mi|km|adj=on}} [[Limited-access road|limited-access highway]] which would start at the western terminus of SC&nbsp;22 with US&nbsp;501 and allow a more direct route west from the southern [[Grand Strand|Strand]], while simultaneously, along with SC&nbsp;22, completing a beltway around the [[Myrtle Beach]] area.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.carolinalive.com/weather/story.aspx?list=197115&id=347692 |title = DOT studies hurricane evacuation route |last = Moore |first = Graeme |work = [[WPDE]] |date = September 8, 2009 |access-date = March 23, 2010 |archive-date = July 22, 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110722212642/http://www.carolinalive.com/weather/story.aspx?list=197115&id=347692 |url-status = live }}</ref> Voters subsequently approved RIDE III in November 2016.<ref name="Jump Start">{{cite news |url = http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/news/local/article120691098.html |title = RIDE III road work gets a jump start |last = Hudson |first = Audrey |work = The Sun News |date = December 13, 2016 |access-date = November 21, 2023 |archive-date = August 31, 2024 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240831031745/https://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/news/local/article120691098.html |url-status = live }}</ref>

Interest in I-73 was renewed in early 2021 due in part to the announcement of the [[American Jobs Plan]].<ref>{{cite news |first1 = J. Dale |last1 = Shoemaker |first2 = Francesca |last2 = Chambers |title = Could Biden's $2 trillion infrastructure plan fund I-73 in Myrtle Beach? What we know. |url = https://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/news/local/article250368441.html |work = The Sun News |date = April 5, 2021 |access-date = April 13, 2021 |archive-date = August 31, 2024 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240831031742/https://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/news/local/article250368441.html |url-status = live }}</ref> Two years later in September 2023, SCDOT announced that Phase I of the project, which would connect I-95 in Dillon County to US 501 south of Latta, would be "shovel ready" by the new year. They also announced that had begun right-of-way purchasing within [[Horry County, South Carolina|Horry County]] from the [[Little Pee Dee River]] to the eventual connecting point for I-73 and SC 22.<ref>{{cite news |last1 = James |first1 = Andrew |title = SCDOT official says I-73 first phase is 'shovel ready' come 2024 |url = https://wpde.com/news/local/scdot-official-says-i-73-first-phase-is-shovel-ready-come-2024-horry-dillon-interstate-73-ride-four-commission-mcmaster-marion |access-date = November 21, 2023 |work = WPDE |date = September 20, 2023 |language = en |archive-date = August 31, 2024 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240831031739/https://wpde.com/news/local/scdot-official-says-i-73-first-phase-is-shovel-ready-come-2024-horry-dillon-interstate-73-ride-four-commission-mcmaster-marion |url-status = live }}</ref> However, South Carolina Governor [[Henry McMaster]]'s 2024 executive budget, which was released in early-January 2024, did not include any funding for building the route. He noted that although he still supports the I-73 expansion into the state, the support among county and local leaders had waned. Despite the lack of funding, Horry County is still working on the stretch from the [[Marion County, South Carolina|Marion County]] border to South Carolina Highway 22.<ref>{{cite news |last1 = Nelson |first1 = Kristin |title = Funding to bring I-73 to Grand Strand not included in McMaster's executive budget |url = https://www.wmbfnews.com/2024/01/05/funding-bring-i-73-grand-strand-not-included-mcmasters-executive-budget/ |access-date = February 7, 2024 |work = www.wmbfnews.com |date = January 5, 2024 |language = en |archive-date = August 31, 2024 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240831031734/https://www.wmbfnews.com/2024/01/05/funding-bring-i-73-grand-strand-not-included-mcmasters-executive-budget/ |url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1 = Richardson |first1 = Julia |title = Mixed reactions from Grand Strand, Pee Dee leaders over lack of I-73 funding |url = https://www.wmbfnews.com/2024/01/08/mixed-reactions-grand-strand-pee-dee-leaders-over-lack-i-73-funding/ |access-date = February 7, 2024 |work = www.wmbfnews.com |date = January 8, 2024 |language = en |archive-date = February 7, 2024 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240207214240/https://www.wmbfnews.com/2024/01/08/mixed-reactions-grand-strand-pee-dee-leaders-over-lack-i-73-funding/ |url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1 = Perry |first1 = Charles D. |date = January 23, 2024 |title = New bridges and I-73? How Horry County could spend $5.5 billion from a 25-year tax |url = https://www.postandcourier.com/myrtle-beach/news/horry-county-transportation-tax-projects-up-for-debate/article_cbec7590-b5b4-11ee-8970-039613a608de.html |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240207214241/https://www.postandcourier.com/myrtle-beach/news/horry-county-transportation-tax-projects-up-for-debate/article_cbec7590-b5b4-11ee-8970-039613a608de.html |archive-date = February 7, 2024 |access-date = February 7, 2024 |work = Post and Courier |language = en }}</ref> This is largely due to the RIDE 4 program, which passed voting on November 5, 2024, and went into effect on May 1, 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |last = Richards |first = Eric |date = November 6, 2024 |title = Horry County RIDE 4 referendum passes |url = https://www.wmbfnews.com/2024/11/06/horry-county-ride-4-referendum-passes/ |access-date = May 11, 2025 |website = www.wmbfnews.com |language = en }}</ref> The estimated cost of the project is $450,000,000 within Horry County, which will be raised by a Penny Sales Tax.<ref>{{Cite web |title = Horry County Government |url = https://www.horrycountysc.gov/ride-4/ |access-date = May 11, 2025 |website = www.horrycountysc.gov |language = en }}</ref> Marion county has shown some support for the project, but like [[Marlboro County, South Carolina|Marlboro]] and [[Dillon County, South Carolina|Dillon]] counties, the other counties through which I-73 would pass, they have not yet found ways to fund the project in their respective counties.<ref>{{Cite web |last = Rowles |first = Courtney |date = January 12, 2022 |title = Marion County Council approves resolution supporting I-73 completion |url = https://wpde.com/news/local/marion-county-council-approves-resolution-supporting-i-73-completion |access-date = May 11, 2025 |website = WPDE |language = en }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title = I-73 in SC Counties |url = https://www.buildi73insc.com/counties |access-date = May 11, 2025 |website = Build I-73 in SC |language = en-US }}</ref>