Pee Dee Voice
An Expressway Through Your Property?

The Facts

Property owners, residents and business owners throughout the Pee Dee are encouraged to learn more about a proposal by the Coastal Conservation League to build a Grand Strand Expressway through the region.  This proposal is a laughable attempt to hinder the progress of building Interstate 73 and will negatively impact property owners along their proposed route.

Why is the CCL pushing for the Grand Strand Expressway?

The CCL filed a lawsuit in December to stop Interstate 73 from being built through South Carolina. I-73 is part of a national development project that dates back to 1978. In 1990 support for the project grew to include the Carolinas – ultimately leading to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The Army Corps of Engineers issued permits in January 2018 to begin construction on I73. Yet, thanks to another Coastal Conservation League lawsuit, the project is once again in jeopardy.

In their latest lawsuit, they are not raising concerns of environmental protection. Those concerns were addressed and met over the last 10 years. This time they believe they have a better route. A route that will involve the construction of an expressway through the Pee Dee Region – possibly even through your property.

What You Should Know

  1. The Department of Transportation defines an “expressway” as:  A divided highway facility with partial control of access and two or more lanes for the exclusive use of through traffic in each direction; includes grade separations at most major intersections.
  2. Thereby, an expressway limits or eliminates your access to the road.
  3. An expressway will cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars to condemn and buy properties in your community.
  4. The CCL wants your property to build this expressway to Myrtle Beach, despite the fact that the highly evolved plan to build I-73 has been in the works for decades.
  5. The CCL Board of Directors are not residents of the Pee Dee. Many members are not even full time residents of South Carolina.  Yet they want to take your property and use it for their purpose.
  6. The South Carolina Department of Transportation has already purchased substantial amounts of land for I-73 (approximately 80%).  To abandon the I-73 project at this juncture would be a financial mistake of epic proportions.

What You Can Do

Now is the time to voice your opinion and stop the CCL from destroying private property and limiting your access to roads.

  1. Contact your local, state and federal legislatures.  Click here for a contact list.
  2. Over 10,000 hard copy signatures have been collected in support of constructing I-73 through the Pee Dee region.  Join their effort by signing this convenient online petition.
  3. Contact the CCL directly.  Email: [email protected]  Phone: 843-723-8035

Brought to you by the I73 Association.