A New Uncertainty for the Carolina Bays Parkway Extension Project
A long-discussed plan to ease traffic between the Carolinas is now facing a new round of uncertainty. North Carolina transportation officials have decided to pull back from a proposed route that would have cut through a Calabash farm, leaving many residents and local business owners in a state of confusion.
The Carolina Bays Parkway Extension Project was designed to relieve traffic crossing state lines by extending Highway 31 from Highway 9 in Horry County into North Carolina to Highway 17 in Brunswick County. This project has been a topic of discussion for years, with the goal of improving connectivity and reducing travel times between the two states.
Sallie Lun, who owns Indigo Farms in Calabash just over the state line from Little River, expressed her concerns about the previous proposal. She said the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s (NCDOT) preferred route would have run through her farm off Highway 57 North.
“I am more scared than happy because of our location and the fact that we’re back in the middle of it,” Lun said. Her fears were not unfounded, as the proposed route placed her property directly in the path of the highway expansion.
NCDOT recently announced that it would not move forward with the original proposal after hosting joint public input sessions with the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT). The decision came after extensive discussions and community feedback.
“I realized that they were going back to square one with the drawing board. And due to our location in relation to the highways that are currently existing, we’re right smack in the middle again. And that’s honestly very scary,” Lun explained.
While the original route has been scrapped, the future of the project remains unclear. NCDOT stated that a new alternative route must include connectivity through the transportation network, increased mobility for the region, and reduced travel time through the project corridor.
Lun understands the need for the highway extension but is worried about what comes next. She is concerned about whether her property could still be affected, given the lack of clarity about the study area.
“They can go anywhere within their study area. And the information I was given today does not state what their study area is. And we’re close enough that I’m very concerned. We are somehow in the study area,” she said.
The uncertainty surrounding the project also affects Indigo Farms, which relies heavily on local customers. Lun worries about how the potential changes might impact her business.
“If we move to the next county, how many of our customers will be able to reach us? How many of our customers will be able to bring their kids and their grandkids out to pick strawberries?” she asked.
As the future of the Carolina Bays Parkway Extension Project remains uncertain, the community continues to watch closely. The outcome of this project could have significant implications for both traffic flow and local businesses in the region.
