SC-22 routes narrowed to a few choices. It could displace scores of Horry residents
John and Katie Clairmont moved to their dream, log cabin-style home on 2 acres in Murrells Inlet six years ago. But that dream may vanish when the South Carolina Highway 22 Extension Project undergoes construction. The project, which has been in the works for nearly two decades , is in the public scoping stage where the initial 22 potential routes have been narrowed down to three. Two of which appear to run directly through the Clairmont’s home should they move forward. “I recognize the fact that Horry County is growing and needs infrastructure improvements. But that being said, they have to take into consideration the families that live in this area,” John Clairmont said. Formerly titled the Southern Evacuation Lifeline project (SELL), the highway intends to improve hurricane evacuation and traffic congestion while aiding services across the Waccamaw River. It’s currently slated to cost $1.56 billion for environmental mitigation and construction funded through Horry County’s RIDE 4 program . But the Clairmonts and other residents in the area are not convinced the project would serve the stated purpose and would increase traffic and development. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is administering a series of studies before authorizing a permit
