Yes, there are more drivers on Myrtle Beach area roads. Here’s which ones

If it seems like roads in Horry County have gotten busier, it’s not your imagination.

Based on South Carolina traffic data, you’re probably driving with nearly 4,000 more people than you were a year ago. On Carolina Bays Parkway, from U.S. 501 and S.C. 31 to North U.S. 17 Bypass, the average daily traffic has increased by 5,600 in the last three years.

The South Carolina Department of Transportation compiles the Average Annual Daily Traffic report for every county in the state each year. The data is based on traffic count information from Continuous Count Stations, which collect hourly count data through permanent sensors installed in the roadway.

The data is an average of roadway traffic throughout the year. So, it could mean that certain roadways get more traffic during the tourist season than in the off-season.

Horry County Department of Public Works maintains 1,484 miles of roadways and 72 bridges and box culverts, according to the county website. There are 964 miles of paved roads, including arterial roads such as Carolina Forest Boulevard which sees more than 24,000 trips a day to local access roads, the site says.

Horry County has seen an increase in residents over the last few years. The county is the third fastest-growing county in the state, and the Myrtle Beach area is among the fastest-growing in the nation. Horry County saw a 3.74% increase in its population in 2023, according to the U.S. Census.

The population growth has created traffic concerns on some roadways in the Myrtle Beach area. For the past three years, the SCDOT reports have shown a steady increase on the roadways, especially the major highways in the Myrtle Beach area.

The section of U.S. 501 near Carolina Bays Parkway to North U.S. 17 Bypass where visitors arrive in Myrtle Beach is one of the busiest sections of roads in Horry County. The South Carolina Department of Transportation reports on the traffic counts of South Carolina roads.. July 8, 2024.

Here are the top 10 most traveled roads in Horry County in the past three years, according to the SCDOT’s annual daily traffic report.

2023

79,600 – U.S. 17 from S.C. 707 (Socastee Boulevard) to U.S. 501
63,800 – U.S. 501/S.C. 31 (Carolina Bays Parkway) to North U.S. 17 Bypass
56,800 – U.S. 501/U.S. 701 (Fourth Avenue) to S.C. 544 (Highway 544 overpass)
55,000 – U.S. 17 (North Highway 17 Bypass) to S.C. 31 (Carolina Bays Parkway)
51,900 – S.C. 31/S.C. 22 to Robert M. Grissom Parkway
51,600 – U.S. 501/S.C. 544 (Highway 544 overpass) to S.C. 31 (Carolina Bays Parkway)
49,200 – U.S. 17 (38th Avenue North) to (67th Avenue North)
48,800 – U.S. 17/S.C. 9 (Sea Mountain Highway) to S.C. 9 (East Highway 9)
46,800 – U.S. 17/U.S. 501 to 38th Avenue North
45,000 – U.S. 17/S.C. 90 (East Highway 90) to Mineola Avenue

2022

75,700 – U.S. 17/S.C. 707 (Socastee Boulevard) to U.S. 501
60,700 – U.S. 501/S.C. 31 (Carolina Bays Parkway) to U.S. 17 (North Highway 17 Bypass)
54,000 – U.S. 501/U.S. 701 (Fourth Avenue) to S.C. 544 (Highway 544 overpass
52,300 – U.S. 17 (North Highway 17 Bypass) to S.C. 31 (Carolina Bays Parkway)
50,100 – U.S. 501/S.C. 544 (Highway 544 overpass) to S.C. 31 (Carolina Bays Parkway
49,200 – S.C. 31/S.C. 22 to Robert M. Grissom Parkway
46,800 – U.S. 17 (38th Avenue North) to 67th Avenue North
46,400 – U.S. 17/S.C. 9 (Sea Mountain Highway) to S.C. 9 (East Highway 9)
44,500 – U.S. 17/U.S. 501 to 38th Avenue North
42,800 – S.C. 31/S.C. 31 connector (Robert Edge Parkway) to S.C. 22

2021

58,200 – U.S. 501/S.C. 31 (Carolina Bays Parkway) to U.S. 17 (North Highway 17 Bypass)
57,600 – U.S. 17/U.S. 17 Business (North Kings Higway) to Lake Arrowhead Road
53,800 – U.S. 17 (Lake Arrowhead Road) to 48th Avenue South
50,700 – U.S. 501/S.C. 544 (Highway 544 overpass) to S.C. 31 (Carolina Bays Parkway)
47,600 – S.C. 31/S.C. 22 to Robert M. Grissom Parkway
45,600 – U.S. 17 (48th Avenue South) to 33rd Avenue South
45,100 – U.S. 17/S.C. 707 (Socastee Boulevard) to U.S. 501
42,600 – U.S. 17 South (33rd Avenue South) to 16th Avenue South
42,300 – U.S. 17/S.C. 544 (Dick Pond Road) to S.C. 707 (Socastee Boulevard)
42,300 – S.C. 31/S.C. 31 connector (Robert Edge Parkway) to S.C. 22

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