MYRTLE BEACH - State Department of Transportation and S.C. Transportation Infrastructure Bank officials met to try to narrow down proposed routes for Interstate 73.

Officials from both agencies discussed how to eliminate some areas from consideration by looking at how and how much the interstate would impact local communities. The discussion took place during a meeting Tuesday at the Myrtle Beach convention center.

They also said the biggest obstacles to completing the interstate are inadequate funding and delays caused by officials in North Carolina, SCDOT representative Bobby Jones told WBTW News 13.

If it is completed, I-73 will run from the Myrtle Beach area north to Michigan. South Carolina’s section of the interstate, about 60 miles, will likely take at least 10 years to complete, provided the estimated $2 billon needed to build it is available.

The I-73 project has been put on a fast track by the SCDOT, which named it as the state’s No. 1 transportation priority.

With the passage of a $388 billion spending bill by the U.S. Senate late last month, the I-73 project is expected to receive $4 million in funding.

The Environmental Impact Study, which typically takes about five years, is expected to be completed in three years.

No exact route for the interstate has been established.

In July, SCDOT and the Federal Highway Commission narrowed the scope of the study area for the I-73 project. To help eliminate opposition from environmentalists, the area of the environmental impact study will no longer include the region south of U.S. 501.

The environmental study for the best route for I-73 officially began with the August publication in the Federal Register of a notice of intent to conduct the survey.

The study area follows the Great Pee Dee at the North Carolina state line south to U.S. 378 west of Conway. It then travels along U.S. 378 to U.S. 501 all the way to the coast, and then runs north back to the North Carolina line.

According to South Carolina I-73 Association officials, I-73 will provide interstate highway access to the Grand Strand and assist in keeping this area of the state competitive with other tourist destinations along the coast.

They said it will also improve safety and enhance hurricane evacuation by providing a controlled access facility with a larger capacity to mobilize traffic during an emergency. In addition, constructing I-73 will foster economic development opportunities, thereby improving local economies along the route.

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