Hundreds of Brunswick County residents attend NCDOT hearing on Carolina Bays extension project
SUNSET BEACH, NC (WWAY) — The North Carolina Department of Transportation held a hearing on Thursday evening about a highway extension project that aims to alleviate traffic congestion between Brunswick County and South Carolina’s Horry County.
Hundreds of Brunswick County residents gathered at the Sea Trail Golf Resort and Convention Center in Sunset Beach to learn more about the Carolina Bays extension project.
The extension would connect Highway 31 in South Carolina to SC 9 before heading into Brunswick County.
Several alternative routes for the North Carolina portion were shown during the hearing.
Division 3 engineer Trevor Carroll said the NCDOT is in the process of deciding which route has the least amount of impact.
The DOT’s preferred option, known as Alternative 4, would swing north above Hickman Road before coming back down south and connecting with Highway 17 near Seaside Road.
But when officials began to discuss that option, the crowd loudly booed.
Once the public comment portion of the hearing opened, residents continued to voice their disapproval of the option.
“Choosing route 4 will ruin our lives,” said Judy Redwine Clayton.
“Reconsider the study areas so you can keep this thing away from 17, past Shallotte.”
John Fastiggi said Alternative 4 is unpopular due to connecting to 17 for a long stretch, and he would prefer option 4A instead.
“Their preferred route goes right up Route 17, would destroy businesses, there’s developments and housing, and it really has no business being on 17,” Fastiggi said. “Route 4-A is taking the expressway inland, where it belongs, just like South Carolina.”
4A would keep the highway north of Old Shallotte Road, before meeting with 17 closer to Whiteville Road.
For now, the North Carolina portion of the expressway is still in the planning phase, and no funds have been allocated for the project.
Construction on the South Carolina portion is expected to begin in 2029.
You can learn more about the NCDOT’s alternative routes and leave a public comment here.
The open public comment period for the project closes on November 21st.
Carroll said a route is expected to be chosen sometime early next year.
