SCNow.com
August 27, 2010
By Aisha Khan
U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, members of the I-73 Association and North Eastern Strategic Alliance discussed the impact of Interstate 73 on the state during a press conference Friday.
U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, members of the I-73 Association and North Eastern Strategic Alliance discussed the impact of Interstate 73 on the state during a press conference Friday.
The interstate, from Myrtle Beach to Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., could take at least 10 years to complete. It would cross six states — Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia and the Carolinas — and traverse 80 miles in four South Carolina counties: Marlboro, Dillon, Marion and Horry at a cost of $2 billion.
It will be the first interstate link to Myrtle Beach, the heart of the state’s $16 billion tourism industry.
A study released in January 2009 suggested that building the South Carolina leg of I-73 could create thousands of jobs and generate more than $1 billion in household income during the five-year construction.
“It’s going to cost billions of dollars,” said Graham during the conference at Magnolia’s in Myrtle Beach, “but when you are talking about stimulating the economy and creating jobs I can’t think of a better use of taxpayer dollars than to construct this new interstate. This is what the federal government is supposed to do.”
News13 asked Graham what he’d say to those who are skeptical about the project and doubt it will come to be.
“We are actually making some progress,” he said. “I thought it was gonna die about three years ago because we couldn’t agree on that route. Now we’ve got a route from beginning to end, the federal government has appropriated $83 million and the state government has appropriated $75 million.”
The next big step is to build an interchange by Interstate 95 and U.S. 501 in Dillon County, Graham said.
“The holdup is that this is a multi-million dollar project and the highway reauthorization bill comes up next year. Congress will set priorities to the nation as to what highways will be funded,” he said, “so anything we can do this year in terms of infrastructure development in South Carolina allows me to make the case to federal government that you should build this road because the states are already helping in building the infrastructure.”
Graham said the state has created an account to buy the needed right of ways and has determined a route to get a better sense of where the road would run and where it would end.
He said if the state can construct an interchange between I-95 and U.S. 501 — a key to building the corridor in South Carolina — it would need $150 million, hence making a better case for him to present to the federal government.
Half of the money is available with the state at $75 million to which another $15 million would be need to added every year over the next five-year period, he said.
“The state has a $3 trillion budget. We are going to reauthorize money next year to build highways,” Graham said. “I think it’s an easy sell. I think most taxpayers are frustrated because they don’t see a value for their dollars.”
Notices for right-of-way acquisitions are being sent to landowners in the section around the first interchange at I-95.
“Ordinary citizens are starting to see that it is a reality because they’re getting condemnation notices from the department saying that we need your land to build this road,” said state Rep. Doug Jennings of Bennettsville, who serves a treasurer of the National I-73/74 Association. “Of course that’s a very personal thing when the government takes your land, but there is also a very fair law out there on the books that make sure that the landowners get compensation for their property.”
Graham said state Rep. Allen Clemmons of Myrtle Beach, who serves as chairman of the National I-73/74 Association, will be taking the I-73 issue to a road rally Sept. 30 in Washington, D.C., to which every legislative delegation member from the I-73 states is invited.
“The decision has been made to begin the construction at I-95 which is four miles north of the existing interchange at S.C. 38 and Dillon County,” Jennings said. “Certainly, in the next two to three years, you can see dirt moving and you can see actual construction going on.”
The National I-73/74 Corridor Association is a membership organization committed to enhancing the economic success and quality of life within the six-state corridor by pursuing the planning, permitting, funding, construction and maintenance of I-73/74 — highways of regional and national significance that will facilitate interstate commerce, reduce congestion and improve safety in an environmentally sound manner.
For more information about I-73, visit www.I73.com or call (866) 924-7374.
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