National Weather Service to investigate probable tornado in Socastee area

June 29, 2013

By Todd Garvin


MYRTLE BEACH — A line of strong thunderstorms that moved through the area Saturday caused some light flooding and brought heavy winds, including a probable tornado in the Socastee area.

Horry County and Brunswick County, N.C., were put under a tornado warning around 4:20 p.m. Saturday and until 4:45 the National Weather Service in Wilmington received reports of a funnel cloud, mostly from around the Amberfield Subdivision in Socastee.

Read more here: 
http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/2013/06/29/3562799/national-weather-service-to-investigate.html#storylink=cpy

Myrtle Beach area cupcake contest keeps things sweet for Fourth of July

By Steve Palisin — spalisin@thesunnews.com

June 30, 2013


An Independence Day contest entering its second year on Thursday lets all participants have their cake and eat it, too.

Croissants Bistro & Bakery, at Grissom Parkway and 38th Avenue North in Myrtle Beach, will get extra sweet in serving up its second annual Fourth of July Cupcake Eating Contest. At this two-hour party beginning at 3 p.m. with entertainment various family activities, registrants for this marathon to munch down as many cupcakes as possible in five minutes must check in by 3:30 p.m.

Continue at:


http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/2013/06/30/3558904/myrtle-beach-area-cupcake-contest.html

Horry County Roads Update

ROAD CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

                                                              

June 30-July 6, 2013

26.036774A US17 BYPASS & 707 INTERCHANGE IMPROVEMENT(Consultant)

Descr:            This project will be the construction of an overpass at US17 and SC707.           

Status:            No lane closures are expected.  New lane shifts are in place.

    

3^rd AVE. MYRTLE BEACH- ROAD AND UTILITY IMPROVEMENTS (HORRY)

             

Descr:   Road and Utility work

Status:  Periodic lane closures and traffic delays thru the summer of 2015.  Use alternate routes whenever possible.  Shoulder closures & lane shifts Monday thru Friday 7am-6pm.

 

                         

NOTES: 

Carolina Road (Green Sea) – Flagger operations from Hwy 9 to Fair Bluff Hwy for chip sealing Monday thru Wednesday 7am-7pm

Red Bluff Road – Shoulder closures from Hwy 90 to Hwy 905 for utility work Monday-Wednesday & Friday 7am-7pm

Hwy 76 – Possible moving operations from SC 9 to Sand Plant Road for installation of pavement markings Tuesday & Wednesday – 7am-7pm

Road Projects Impact on MOSP?

In the article below, the South Carolina Department of Transportation gives a summary descritpion and status of local road projects.  I've been wondering exactly where the Carolina Bays (Route 31) will come in, because traffic around here is becoming more of a a concern.  If you're similarly interested, take a look at this document.  It has more detail.

http://www.scdot.org/inside/pdfs/PublicHearings/CarolinaBays_handout.pdf

I found it interesting that the original plan called for Rte. 31 to intersect with 17 Bypass, which it seems would more directly reduce traffic on that route.  The current plan is two miles  shorter, saving a lot of expense.

I copied the map from the pdf and show it here, with comments below it.

Above you can see but not read an overall map of the Route 31 extension and the 707 widening.  The latter project extends all the way from where 707 crosses 544 down to the CVS in Murrells Inlet, across 17 Bypass and over Sunnyside Ave. to Business 17 that runs along the marsh (Restaurant Row.)

The Carolina Bays (Rte. 31) extension will leave 544 and curve around and meet 707 north of the 707 intersection with Holmestown Road.  Here's a closer look.

  The On and Off Ramps will extend on both sides of 707 between Blue Stern Drive and Leonard Road on the left, just north of Moss Creek Road, where today you can see a big empty field..  Here's is the sat photo.  In the pdf mentioned above, there is an overlay map of the cloverleaf.

If the project takes some of the traffic off Routes 17 Bypass and 17 Business, that would seem to be a good thing.  But the effect will be north of us and the diverted northbound traffic will be heading out Holmestown Road and up 707 to get on Rte. 31.


Comments?



Dave

Paintings

This afternoon.I received the gift of jpgs of paintings by a local artist.  Nikki Dowell MacLeod has given her permission for us to run a series of her paintings on the Blog.  Yes, her proud father sent them in.  You will definitely enjoy them. I'll be running each of them somewhere on the blog throughout the week.  I'm impressed with all the talent around here.  From the photos by Michele and her daughter Brandi to Mary Beth's on-the-scene-reporting (just to kid her) to Doug's suggestions for the blog,  I'm convinced we have more than enough people with skills to fill our pages with stories, poems, photos and artwork.  Keep it coming.  It's nice to read or view something other than Things To Do and HOA News.  Don't forget to send me music requests and I'll look for them on YouTube.

Local Road Projects Status

Below is a current status report from the South Carolina Department of Transportation:

SC Route 707 Widening (RIDE II)

 

Description:

Widening of SC Route 707 from a 2-lane shoulder section to a 5-lane curb and gutter facility with sidewalks from just south of Enterprise Road (S-26-926) in Horry County to US Route 17 in Georgetown County, a distance of approximately 9.2 miles.  The project has been broken in to three phases: Phase I is from just south of Enterprise Road (S-26-926) to Salem Road.  Phase II runs from Salem Road to the Horry/Georgetown County line.  Phase III limits are from the Horry/Georgetown County line to US Route 17.  All phases will be developed concurrently.

 

Status:

Right of way acquisition and the development of final construction plans and specifications are substantially complete.  The 404(b)(1) permit was approved by the Army Corps of Engineers on May 24, 2013.  A clearing and grubbing contract will be let to construction in August 2013 along with an interim intersection improvement project located at SC Route 707 and Big Block Road.  The clearing and grubbing contract will prepare the area for the utilities to relocate their facilities within the project limits.  Following the relocation of a significant portion of the utilities, the main widening contract is anticipated to be let to construction in the spring of 2014.

 

Glenn’s Bay Road (S-2-1240) Widening and interchange at US 17 Bypass (RIDE II)

 

Description:

Widening of Glenn’s Bay Road (S-26-1240) from a 2-lane shoulder section to a 3-lane curb and gutter facility with sidewalks from US Route 17 Bypass to US Route 17 Business, a distance if approximately 1.6 miles.  The project will also include an interchange at US Route 17 Bypass and Glenn’s Bay Road.

 

Status: 

Right of way acquisitions and the development of the construction plans and specifications are in progress.  Coordination with the US Army Corps of Engineers continues concerning the permit approval and mitigation plan.

Carolina Bays Parkway (SC Route 31) Extension

 

Description:

Extension of the Carolina Bays Parkway from its current terminus at SC Route 544 to SC Route 707, a distance of approximately 4.3 miles. The proposed project is a new location, multilane freeway facility that will include a bridge over the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and interchanges at SC Route 544 and SC Route 707.

Status:

Right of way acquisitions and construction plans are complete.  The 404(b)(1) permit was approved by the Army Corps of Engineers on May 24, 2013.  The project will be let to construction in October 2013 following a 60 day ad period.

New SC Motorist Help Service

June 27
   
SCDOT Launches Enhanced 511 Traveler Information System

Free Service to Help Motorists Save Time and Money



           The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) has launched an enhanced 511 Traveler Information System, providing traffic camera images, travel time estimates and other technological tools to help motorists navigate South Carolina’s roadways.
Other new features of South Carolina’s “Next Generation 511 System” include an interactive map showing locations of traffic incidents and construction projects; average speeds of traffic; weather information; and twitter accounts to provide users with real-time important travel information.
 “We think the public will want to take advantage of this user-friendly, new technology to help make their travel as efficient and safe as possible,” said SCDOT Director of Traffic Engineering Tony Sheppard. “We are especially glad to have the new system in place for the upcoming Fourth of July holiday. An informed motorist can avoid problem areas and not only make their trip better, but help lessen overall traffic congestion.”

Continue at:

http://info.scdot.org/PressRelease/Lists/Posts/Post.aspx?ID=1509