Two significant local developments will affect Myrtle Beach residents this week: a temporary lane closure on the US 501 bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway and a statewide push for real tort reform aimed at lowering household insurance costs.
According to Myrtle Beach News, the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) will close the right lane in each direction on the US 501 bridge on back‑to‑back overnight periods beginning Thursday, Nov. 12. The department plans to work on one side of the bridge each night so that at least one lane remains open in both directions. Motorists have been asked to “slow down and pay attention” in the work zone. While the exact start time was not provided, drivers should expect the lane to be coned off at any point after the evening rush. Early reports from WBTW indicated the northbound lane would close the same night as the southbound lane, but later accounts, including WPDE’s updated story on Nov. 9, place the northbound closure on Friday night, making the staggered schedule the most reliable information.
The overnight timing follows state rules that prohibit lane closures on busy primary routes when traffic exceeds 800 vehicles per hour per lane. Because US 501 carries heavy daily traffic, SCDOT conducts inspections and routine maintenance during low‑traffic periods, as it did in May 2025 when lanes were closed from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. for four nights. The November timing also avoids the summer tourist peak, minimizing impact on visitors while affecting residents who work late‑shift jobs in hospitality, health care and retail.
In a separate development, State Senator Sean M. Bennett called for comprehensive tort reform, emphasizing “real tort reform” as a key component of South Carolina’s affordability agenda. Bennett highlighted insurance savings achieved in neighboring states: Georgia’s House leaders reported more than $500 million in realized or anticipated insurance savings during 2026, including State Farm’s auto rate reductions of over 10 percent—estimated to save $400 million annually—and Travelers’ 10.1 percent reduction, amounting to roughly $40 million in statewide premium savings. Florida’s regulator noted that the five largest auto insurers, covering 81 percent of the market, posted an average rate reduction of 12.6 percent for 2026.
Bennett argued that South Carolina’s modest 2025 adjustments to joint‑and‑several liability and liquor liability fall short of the reforms needed to curb costly litigation and lower insurance premiums. He urged lawmakers to pursue reforms that protect court access and fair compensation while making liability more predictable, warning that “preserving a system that works well for its beneficiaries does nothing for the family trying to make its next insurance payment.”
What’s next: The US 501 bridge lane closures are expected to end after the two overnight periods, with traffic returning to normal on Saturday. Senator Bennett plans to introduce tort‑reform legislation in the upcoming legislative session, seeking bipartisan support to replicate the insurance‑cost reductions seen in Georgia and Florida.
Sources: myrtlebeachnews.com, myrtlebeachnews.com
