NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. -Transportation officials in North Carolina are looking into the possibility of extending a South Carolina highway to relieve traffic along the Grand Strand into Brunswick County.

The six-lane Carolina Bays Parkway runs parallel to U.S. 17 just west of the Intracoastal Waterway. South Carolina officials hope the first 20-mile leg of the limited-access roadway draws traffic off development-choked U.S. 17.

But the parkway, known as S.C. 31, is changing traffic patterns in North Carolina. Hickman Road, formerly a quiet, two-lane road running from the parkway's end to U.S. 17 in Brunswick County is seeing more traffic, local business owners said.

Now North Carolina officials are proposing to extend the parkway five miles north to the state line as a remedy. The extension would link the parkway with U.S. 17.

"We don't want South Carolina to build a highway to the state line and just have it dead-end there," said Mike Bruff, manager of the Department of Transportation's statewide planning branch.

The N.C. DOT is expected to approve a feasibility study for the project Thursday, which would cost around $185,000 and take about a year.

The study also would establish an estimated cost for the highway, which would be built to interstate standards for possible future designation as part of Interstate 74.

Don Eggert, transportation planner for the Cape Fear Area Rural Planning Organization, said extending the parkway could be good for both states. It would make it easier for visitors and residents to get to attractions and businesses on either side of the state line, he said.

He said the project could also keep increased traffic off roads unprepared to handle it.