State transportation officials will give the public its first look at the route they're recommending for the southern portion of Interstate 73 next week.

The South Carolina Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration will unveil the recommended Preferred Alternative route for the portion of the proposed highway that would run from Interstate 95 in the Dillon/Latta area to S.C. 22 in the Conway/Myrtle Beach area.

The announcement will be made May 30 at Columbia Convention Center.

The I-73 project in South Carolina was divided into two separate sections, one north of I-95 and another south of I-95. SCDOT project planners held several public scoping meetings to determine potential routes, which were narrowed down to a route preferred by the agency and the FHA. The project also was the subject of an Environmental Impact Study to determine a route with the least impact on the environment.

SCDOT chose to focus on the southern section of the highway first because it had more potential for environmental impact and was likely to be more controversial. Several potential routes were eliminated from SCDOT's plans because of concerns that the highway would disturb small rural communities, cemeteries or churches.

Announcement of Potential Alternative Corridors for the Northern Project will be scheduled for later this summer.

Next week's announcement will be followed by a series of public hearings in June for additional input from area residents.

SCDOT will announce a schedule for those public hearings at Tuesday's meeting. Comments taken at the public hearings could contribute to minor alterations in the final route.

Following this announcement, mapping will be available for viewing at the I-73 Project Web site, www.I73inSC.com.

Comments also can be made to the South Carolina Department of Transportation on that Web site.