North Myrtle Beach Times Serving our Community and the Grand Strand for over 50 years
By Ruden Lowman
For locals who regularly navigate the busy intersection of Highway 9 and Highway 57, the end of construction orange is finally in sight.
Horry County officials announced this week that a significant stormwater improvement project in the Longs area has reached the 75 percent completion mark. The $3 million initiative is a targeted effort to harden the local infrastructure against the chronic flooding that has historically plagued this community.
The backbone of the project involves the installation of dual relief culverts beneath the roadway. These oversized concrete structures are designed to act as high-capacity bypasses, allowing massive volumes of water to move under the highway rather than backing up into residential and commercial properties during heavy storms, which has been a recurring source of frustration and caused significant problems for local residents for many years.
By increasing the hydraulic capacity of the drainage system, the county aims to reduce the frequency and severity of road closures that often follow seasonal downpours.
While the heavy lifting of the pipe installation is well underway, several critical steps remain before the project is officially dry and dusted and in the rearview mirror.
Contractors are currently working to finish the remaining sections of the drainage pipe, according to county officials. Once that phase is concluded, the temporary roadway that has been keeping traffic moving will be dismantled to make way for the restoration of the highway median.
As the project moves toward its expected completion next month, the work site will shift toward surface restoration. This final stage includes regrading the downstream ditches to ensure proper water flow away from the highway, as well as repairing and repaving all travel lanes affected by the construction.
The goal is to leave the road surface in better condition than it was before the trenches were first dug.
Funding for this massive infrastructure project was secured largely through a grant from the South Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA), reflecting a broader state-level push to address drainage issues in rapidly growing rural corridors like the Longs community.
Until the final “Road Work Ahead” signs are taken down, Horry County officials are urging motorists to maintain a high level of caution and to be mindful of crews operating near the travel lanes.
