Family members of the first Mayor of North Myrtle Beach, Robert Edge, were among the dignitaries at the opening ceremony Thursday, Sept. 3, 2009, for the project named in his honor.
Speakers for the Robert Edge Parkway, (formerly North Myrtle Beach Connector) included United States Senator Lindsey Graham, United States Congressman Henry Brown, South Carolina State Representative Tracy Edge of House District 104; Robert Edge, Jr., Horry County Coroner; SCDOT Commissioner Danny H. Isaac Jr., 1st Congressional District; Liz Gilland, Chairman of Horry County Council; Harold Worley, Horry County Council District 1; Mayor Marilyn Hatley of North Myrtle Beach; Don Leonard, Chairman of the SC State Transportation Infrastructure Bank; John Napier, former Congressman and Federal Judge; Doug Wendel, former North Myrtle Beach City Manager; and Joe Saleeby, former Mayor of North Myrtle Beach.
The Robert Edge Parkway is the final project in Horry County’s initial RIDE program, which began in 1997. Funding for the over $1.1 billion program was provided by Horry County and the State Transportation Infrastructure Bank. Other projects in the RIDE program included the Conway Bypass, the Carolina Bays Parkway from SC 9 to SC 544, the Grissom Parkway, and the Fantasy Harbour bridge.
The project extends from SC 90 west to US 17 at Main Street in North Myrtle Beach and includes a bridge over the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and an interchange at Carolina Bays Parkway. SCDOT managed the design and construction of the project
The 1,000-foot-long bridge includes a multi-use pathway on the northern side. Pedestrians and bicyclists will be able to enjoy the views as they use the 10-foot-wide pathway.
The project was set to open to traffic later in the day after the ceremony.
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SCDOT Commissioner Danny Isaac Jr., of the 1st Congressional District, speaks during the opening ceremony of the Robert Edge Parkway in North Myrtle Beach.
Dignitaries cut the ribbon at the opening ceremony of the Robert Edge Parkway in North Myrtle Beach.
