Carolina Bays Parkway Extension – Draft Environmental Impact Statement (July 2025)

New Public Hearing Date for NC- Thursday, Oct. 23rd, Sea Trail Convention Center, 75-A Clubhouse Rd. Sunset Beach, NC , Open House 5-6:30pm, Hearing 7:00pm. 

 

The Carolina Bays Parkway Extension is a proposed project connecting Brunswick County, NC, and Horry County, SC. The project evaluates several route alternatives, each with different impacts on homes, businesses, tourism, industry, and agriculture.

Key Findings

  • Alternative 1

    • 62 homes relocated (low impact on neighborhoods).

    • Moderate impacts on businesses and industry, but relocation options available.

    • Strong benefits to tourism by reducing congestion on US 17.

    • Very high impacts on agriculture.

  • Alternative 1A

    • 140 homes relocated (high).

    • Low-moderate impacts on businesses and industry.

    • Net tourism benefit.

    • Very high impacts on agriculture.

  • Alternative 2

    • 105 homes relocated.

    • Moderate business impacts, higher industrial impacts.

    • Net tourism benefit.

    • High agricultural impacts.

  • Alternative 4 (Preferred by Draft Environmental Impact Statement)

    • 39 homes relocated (lowest of all alternatives).

    • Moderate business and industrial impacts, relocation opportunities available.

    • Strong tourism benefits.

    • Very high impacts on agriculture.

  • Alternative 4A

    • 118 homes relocated.

    • Low-moderate business and industrial impacts.

    • Net tourism benefit.

    • Very high impacts on agriculture.

  • Alternative 7

    • 266 homes relocated (highest).

    • Very high tourism impacts (disrupts golf courses).

    • Moderate impacts on businesses and industry.

    • Low agricultural impacts.

  • Alternative 8

    • 130 homes relocated.

    • High business and industrial impacts but tempered by relocation opportunities.

    • Net tourism benefit.

    • Low agricultural impacts.

Overall

  • Tourism: Most routes improve access, except Alternative 7 which would harm golf-related tourism.

  • Commercial/Industrial: All routes cause some relocations, but relocation options and improved mobility help balance impacts.

  • Agriculture: Alternatives 1, 1A, and 4/4A have the highest agricultural impacts, while 7 and 8 are lowest.

  • Residential: Alternative 4 is the least disruptive, while Alternative 7 is the most.

Preferred Route: Alternative 4 – chosen because it minimizes residential relocations and supports tourism, commerce, and transportation efficiency despite agricultural impacts.