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A planned development along U.S. 501 between Carolina Forest and Conway would add several businesses, but a study of the project predicts it will also bring an influx of traffic.

Meanwhile, the road is already one of the busiest in the Grand Strand, and ongoing construction and road infrastructure work could further impact Horry County drivers.

Developers plan to add a mixed-use development along U.S. 501 between Carolina Forest and Conway, with construction completion expected in 2027. The massive project will reside between Storage Rentals of America and Carolina Forest High School at 700 Gardner Lacy Rd. According to the plan, the new development consists of two large properties separated by railroad tracks.

The development will feature about 30 buildings, seven parking garages aside from additional parking lots, four amenity areas, two buildings designated for shops and two buildings designated for restaurants.

The Sun News obtained the development plans and traffic analysis via a Freedom of Information Act, FOIA, request from SCDOT. The national engineering and consulting firm Kimley Horn prepared a traffic impact analysis for the project.

The project plans to add:

While the new development will bring business, the traffic analysis of the project predicts an increase in cars due to the project. Kimley Horn’s study found that the new mixed-use development could add 26,572 daily trips. Kimley Horn’s report also estimates the site adding almost 1,700 more trips during the peak morning hour and more than 2,000 during the afternoon peak.

U.S. 501 is one of the busiest roads in the Myrtle Beach area. The South Carolina Department of Transportation traffic analysis and data application lists the annual average daily traffic for the road between the South Carolina 544 overpass to Carolina Bays Parkway at 51,600, making it one of the busiest roads in the Grand Strand area.

The study also found the mixed-use development will also affect traffic for Burning Ridge Road, Wild Wing Boulevard, Myrtle Ridge Drive and Postal Way will all be impacted by the development.

The analysis also included recommendations, including adding several turning lanes for cars entering and exiting the area and internal roads.

Kimley Horn prepared the report for Impeccable Development, a commercial real estate firm that’s opened a new Popeyes restaurant in Myrtle Beach and is behind the project. Impeccable Development’s planned Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steakburgers restaurant is within the area the traffic analysis examined.

The planned mixed-use development isn’t the only factor expected to impact traffic along U.S. 501. Horry County is expanding the highway as part of its Ride III road infrastructure project funded via a one-cent sales tax. U.S. 501 will become six lanes from S.C. Highway 31 to the S.C. 544 Interchange, with work conducted in two phases. The county’s Ride III overview projects the improvements will cost $50 million and conclude during the fall of 2026.

This story was originally published November 27, 2024, 5:00 AM.

BAM Personal Injury Lawyers carried out a study to determine the states in the US with a significant proportion of fatal speeding incidents linked to speeding offenses committed by drivers. Various factors were taken into account, such as population size, number of registered vehicles, frequency of fatal incidents, percentage of drivers with speeding violations, maximum speed limit, frequency of crashes involving unlicensed drivers, and enforcement of seatbelt usage by drivers. The resulting composite score was calculated to identify the US states that exhibit strong connections to the dangers associated with speeding.

Fatal Speeding Incidents by state

Wyoming is ranked as the top state in the US for having a high number of traffic speed violations. Despite its small population of 586,485 residents, Wyoming has a concerning 44.9% of fatal speeding incidents, which is one of the highest percentages in the country. In this state, 13.43% of drivers have been found to have speeding violations. Wyoming’s loose seatbelt laws, 80 mph speed limits, and minimal $5 starting fines may contribute to the development of conditions that encourage risky driving behavior.

South Carolina secures the second position, boasting a composite score of 95.4. The state, occupied by over 5.4 million individuals and housing a fleet of more than 5 million registered vehicles, witnessed a total of 1,019 fatal speeding incidents, out of which 36.8% were attributed to speeding. Despite the implementation of primary seatbelt enforcement, South Carolina still grapples with accidents stemming from excessive speed.

Colorado ranks third in terms of the highest number of speed violations with a total score of 92.6. Approximately 12.03% of drivers in the state have been reported for speeding, resulting in 699 fatal speeding incidents. Colorado’s speeding fines range from $15 to $100, which are among the lowest in the country. Additionally, the state has a secondary seatbelt enforcement policy. With a maximum speed limit of 75 mph, Colorado appears to promote risky driving behaviors.

Alaska ranks fourth in terms of composite score, scoring 90.5. Despite a relatively low number of registered vehicles at 559,800, the state has experienced a high rate of fatal speeding incidents at 34.7%. Despite implementing 65 mph speed limits, stricter $300 fines, and enforcing primary seatbelt laws, 12.4% of Alaska’s drivers have still accumulated speeding violations.

Utah, with a population of 3.4 million, holds the fifth position among the top 10 states with the highest prevalence of fatal speeding incidents. The state confronts notable difficulties concerning incidents associated with speeding, as 34.8% of fatal crashes in Utah involve excessive speed. Furthermore, close to 12% of drivers in the state have received citations for surpassing speed limits. With an impressive number of over 3 million registered vehicles traversing its roads, Utah has documented a total of 296 fatal incidents, out of which 103 incidents were directly attributed to violations of speed regulations.

North Dakota ranks sixth with a composite score of 83.7. The state has one of the highest rates of drivers with speeding tickets at 14.41%. Despite having a relatively low fatality rate, speed-related factors contribute to 27.1% of fatal crashes in North Dakota. The issue may be exacerbated by the starting fines of $5.

Washington takes seventh place. With nearly 7.8 million residents and 6.8 million registered vehicles, the state recorded 902 fatal speeding incidents, with 33.3% involving excessive speed. With a 70 mph speed limit and primary seatbelt laws, 12.17% of drivers still have speeding violations. The state documented 902 crashes involving unlicensed drivers, having broader issues with traffic law compliance. The state comes up with a 79.4 composite score.

Rhode Island is placed in the eighth position with a score of 76.1. The study reveals that the highest percentage of fatal accidents in Rhode Island, about 47.1%, occur due to speeding. Despite having primary seatbelt laws and fines beginning at $250, approximately 7.34% of drivers in Rhode Island have speeding violations on their records. Additionally, the state has reported a worrying number of 59 crashes involving unlicensed drivers, considering its relatively small population.

Ranked ninth on the list, North Carolina has a composite score of 74.5. The state holds the highest number of crashes involving unlicensed drivers, totaling 1,921 fatal speeding incidents nationwide. Furthermore, North Carolina ranks among the states with the highest percentage, 39.9%, of fatal incidents related to speeding out of its 1,500 recorded fatal incidents. Despite having relatively modest speed limits set at 70 mph and enforcing primary seatbelt laws, 9.61% of North Carolina drivers still receive speeding tickets.

Virginia is ranked number ten among the fastest states in the US, scoring a composite of 73.3. The state, which has a population of 8.7 million, experienced a total of 946 fatal accidents, with 29.2% of them attributed to speeding. Virginia imposes strict penalties for road violations, with fines ranging from $100 to $500, and enforces primary seatbelt laws. Despite these measures, 12.65% of Virginia drivers have speeding violations on their driving records.

A spokesperson from Benzion and Martineau commented on the study: “ Speeding continues to be a leading cause of fatal accidents across the U.S., with a significant percentage of fatalities linked directly to excessive speed. Despite existing speed limits and mandatory seatbelt laws, many states are still struggling with a troubling number of speed-related incidents. This issue is compounded by factors such as minimal fines for speeding, recurring violations, and a considerable presence of unlicensed drivers on the road. These trends highlight the need for tougher enforcement of traffic laws, higher fines for offenders, and better education on the dangers of speeding. A combined approach is necessary to prevent these avoidable tragedies.”