Crews started this week installing concrete medians at five U.S. 17 intersections in North Myrtle Beach—46th Avenue South, Windy Hill Road, 37th Avenue South, 33rd Avenue South, and 27th Avenue South. The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) says the work is a response to a long crash history along the corridor.
Why the medians are being built
SCDOT’s Office of Traffic Safety reports that the stretch from Conway Street to 21st Avenue South experienced 609 crashes over six years, including seven fatalities. By channeling left‑turn traffic into designated U‑turns, the agency believes the design will reduce the most severe collisions, such as head‑on and angle crashes, a claim supported by Federal Highway Administration data.
Local concerns about access
Residents and business owners who rely on left turns are uneasy. A kite‑shop owner on Highway 17 worries that drivers will bypass her store rather than make a U‑turn. A Crescent Beach resident voiced concerns that U‑turns at signals could conflict with drivers turning right on red. The medians also force drivers to travel farther to reach destinations, potentially impacting local commerce.
How decisions are made
This project is not a city‑initiated effort; it is funded through the federal Highway Safety Improvement Program and overseen by SCDOT in Columbia. Because the funding and authority sit at the state level, local officials have limited leverage unless they formally engage with the agency.
North Myrtle Beach residents did have one formal opportunity to comment. SCDOT held a community meeting on Feb. 29, 2024, at the city government office and accepted online feedback through March 15. Opposition was recorded, but no subsequent public meeting was held after the design was finalized, and construction began without a second round of local review.
What other towns have done
Nearby James Island faced a similar proposal for raised medians on Folly Road. After residents submitted over 1,000 comments and a petition, the town council voted unanimously to deny SCDOT municipal consent for the work within town limits. The mayor clarified that the town would accept crosswalks, signals, and turn lanes if the medians were removed from the business district. SCDOT subsequently pulled back on the Folly Road improvements.
The James Island experience shows that coordinated, formal action by local government—rather than isolated complaints—can influence state‑level projects.
What residents can still do
Those concerned about the current medians should contact SCDOT directly at 1‑855‑GO‑SCDOT (1‑855‑467‑2368) and reference Project ID P037887. Ask for intersection‑level crash data and inquire whether any median locations can still be modified.
Residents can also reach out to North Myrtle Beach City Council to determine whether the city signed any agreement with SCDOT for this project and whether council ever voted on it publicly. Engaging local legislators, as James Island did, may add additional pressure.
Looking ahead
SCDOT plans further safety work farther north, with a public‑comment period in 2025 for a segment running from 20th Avenue South to 8th Avenue North, plus a Little River stretch. That portion runs through the heart of North Myrtle Beach, offering another chance for community input before designs are locked in.
The medians at the five intersections are almost certainly proceeding, with completion expected by June 30, 2027. The key question now is whether North Myrtle Beach’s elected officials will advocate for residents’ access concerns before the next phase of the project moves forward.
Original reporting: MyrtleBeachSC News — read the source article.
