Like Rip Van Winkle, all 12 Horry County Council members and several South Strand legislators have awakened from a long nap to discover the S.C. Department of Transportation wants to link Interstate 73 with S.C. 22. They're unpleasantly "surprised" to discover that the DOT last year abandoned study of an I-73 route through southern Horry County, because of cost and environmental concerns.

These politicians now want the agency to reopen study of a southern route. Their motive is to quell western Horry County concerns that farms and homes could be lost to interstate right-of-way acquisition.

What's most frustrating about this rebellion is not so much the belated interest that County Council members and South Strand legislators are showing in the DOT's I-73 planning process. Why weren't they paying closer attention as the process unfolded over the past 2½ years?

Nor is environmental insensitivity the most frustrating aspect of their insistence that the DOT look anew at a southern route. Running a highway through that part of the county would entail massive wetland destruction and place the DOT at odds with federal regulatory agencies.

What's most frustrating is their apparent willingness to jeopardize the project to appease their constituents. Don't council members and South Strand legislators understand that Congress has not yet appropriated money for this project?

Don't they understand that the politicians from other states stand ready and eager to break South Carolina's fragile hold on a federal I-73 appropriation and divert that money to pet projects in other states? Don't they understand that the $1 million the S.C. House approved for I-73 (and I-74) earlier this year, at the behest of Rep. Tracy Edge, R-North Myrtle Beach, is not yet secured - that other S.C. venues would love to have that money instead? All it takes for Washington and Columbia I-73 money to disappear is the perception that the folks whom it would benefit - us - don't really want it.

These elected public servants should emulate S.C. Rep. Liston Barfield, R-Aynor, the elected official at greatest risk of political repercussions from western Horry County unhappiness at the DOT's preferred route for the interstate. Barfield defends his constituents' right to complain to the DOT about the route choice, but declines to join the charge to change the route.

As a longtime legislator, Barfield understands that the agency, in its quiet, methodical way, is processing the public input it received from west-county residents, with an eye to minimizing damage to farms and towns. He understands that a fight to route the road further south could cost the county the entire project. For this, he deserves great credit.

It's important for all who want interstate service to our communities to stay on message on this issue - that we want, need and deserve this highway. Having I-73 follow a route that some don't like is far better for our communities than having no interstate at all.