South Carolina Highway 707

Because the area has experienced rapid growth within recent years, and because of increased traffic expected from the completion of SC 31 to SC 707,[5] the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) has decided to widen the highway from near Enterprise Road south of SC 544 to US 17 near the Horry–Georgetown county line. Much of the 9.2-mile (14.8 km) project is being funded through the one-percent Horry County sales tax increase by the 'Riding on a Penny' program. The first public meeting on the road project was held in August 2008.[3][6] Right of way acquisitions were set to begin late in 2010 with construction starting in spring or summer of 2011.[7]

However, the SC 31 extension and the SC 707 widening were combined into one project in 2010, and in March of that year changes were made to plans for the parkway. After many delays, a groundbreaking for both projects took place November 6, 2013 at the future interchange of SC 31/SC 544. The $105 million SC 707 project was expected to be finished in Spring 2017.[6] Due to delays stemming from weather, both the SC 31 extension and SC 707 widening projects were expected to be completed in the summer of 2018.[8]

The intersection of SC 707 with US 17 at Farrow Parkway, known as the "back gate" of the former Myrtle Beach Air Force Base, has seen increased traffic with the construction of The Market Common, expansion of the Myrtle Beach International Airport and other development on and near the former base.[9] One of the first priorities for Horry County's program 'Riding on a Penny' was to build a grade-separated interchange connecting the two roads together. The projected cost of the project was $49,500,000. The recommended configuration of the interchange, due to limiting right-of-way space and heavy traffic demands, is a single-point urban interchange.[10] Also, US 17 must go over a 35-foot-high, 1,200-foot-long bridge because the soil cannot support a stronger bridge without work that would have delayed the project.[11] As of April 2010, the projected cost had more than doubled to $107 million.[12] Interchange construction began June 6, 2011, and the projected completion date was August 2014.[13] Soil conditions and weather caused many delays. On October 23, 2014, a ribbon cutting took place for the completion of what became a $121.7 million project. The southbound lanes opened earlier that week, and the northbound lanes were opening the next week. Pavement markings, signs and other details would not be complete until November. The project also included more turn lanes on US 17, frontage roads, and the addition of Coventry Boulevard as an alternate route around the interchange.[9]