Farrow Parkway

Farrow Parkway
Route information
Length: 3.5 mi (5.6 km)
Existed: 2005 – present
Major junctions
West end: US 17 / SC 707 in Socastee
East end:
US 17 Bus. in Springmaid Beach
Highway system

Farrow Parkway is a four-lane, 3.5-mile (5.6 km) parkway that connects US 17 and US 17 Business in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The $6.9 million roadway replaced a former two-lane roadway through the former Myrtle Beach Air Force Base with funding from the city of Myrtle Beach funds and Horry County RIDE funds. Farrow Parkway is named after Lt. William Farrow who was a member of the Doolittle’s Raiders in World War II.

History

After the Myrtle Beach Air Force Base closed, the base redevelopment authority planned to sell bonds to build the main road through the former base in November 2000, with plans to start construction in January 2001. Work was expected to take 18 months.[1]

Phase two of the road's construction started in November 2003.[2]

On August 1, 2005, Farrow Parkway officially opened, a "four-lane, landscaped road with sidewalks, street lamps and a grassy median" three and a half miles long, between Kings Highway near Springmaid Beach and U.S. 17 Bypass.[3] Development along the Parkway includes The Market Common.[4]

The intersection of Farrow Parkway and South Carolina Highway 707 with U.S. Highway 17, known as the "back gate" of the former base, has seen increased traffic with the construction of The Market Common, expansion of the Myrtle Beach International Airport and other development on and near the former base.[5] One of the first priorities for Horry County's program 'Riding on a Penny' was to build a grade-separated interchange connecting the two roads together. The projected cost of the project was $49,500,000. The recommended configuration of the interchange, due to limiting right-of-way space and heavy traffic demands, is a single-point urban interchange.[6] Also, U.S. 17 must go over a 35-foot-high, 1,200-foot-long bridge because the soil cannot support a stronger bridge without work that would have delayed the project.[7] As of April 2010, the projected cost had more than doubled to $107 million.[8] Interchange construction began June 6, 2011, and the projected completion date was August 2014.[9] Soil conditions and weather caused many delays. On October 23, 2014, a ribbon cutting took place for the completion of what became a $121.7 million project. The southbound lanes opened earlier that week, and the northbound lanes were opening the next week. Pavement markings, signs and other details would not be complete until November. The project also included more turn lanes on U.S. 17, frontage roads, and the addition of Coventry Boulevard as an alternate route around the interchange.[5]

Attractions/Special Interest

Major intersections

The entire route is in Horry County.

LocationmikmDestinationsNotes
Socastee0.00.0 SC 707 south – Socastee
1.62.6 US 17 – Myrtle Beach, Murrells Inlet
Springmaid Beach3.55.6
US 17 Bus. – Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

  1. ↑ Zane Wilson, "Demolition Begins on Former Base," The Sun News, August 25, 2000.
  2. ↑ Erin Reed, "Detours May Be Gone by November," The Sun News, October 20, 2003.
  3. ↑ Emma Ritch, "MB Opens Farrow Parkway," The Sun News, August 2, 2005.
  4. ↑ "Stores, eateries gear up for opening," The Sun News, March 5, 2008.
  5. 1 2 Rodriguez, Jason (2014-10-23). "Back gate bridge ribbon cutting: 'We’re showing them that we’re making it happen'". The Sun News.
  6. ↑ Handout on the interchange project from Horry County http://www.ridingonapenny.com/handout-060608.pdf
  7. ↑ Mike Cherney, "Traffic relief on schedule: Longer-than-expected overpass likely to push project past $50 million mark," The Sun News, June 5, 2008.
  8. ↑ Lorena Anderson, "Myrtle Beach wary as back gate overpass gets under way," The Sun News, April 17, 2010.
  9. ↑ Dickerson, Brad (2011-06-02). "Back gate work kicking off soon in Myrtle Beach". The Sun News. Retrieved 2011-06-02.
  1. ^ Farrow Parkway provides needed link, Myrtle Beach Herald, August 4, 2005
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