Carolina Bays Parkway extension: SC moves ahead while NC portion stalls

South Carolina is moving ahead with its roughly five-mile stretch of the Carolina Bays Parkway extension — the plan to extend S.C. 31 (Carolina Bays Parkway) from S.C. 9 in Horry County across the state line to U.S. 17 in Brunswick County. But North Carolina’s roughly 15-mile segment is stuck.Back in April 2026, NCDOT scrapped Alternative 4, the preferred route through Hickmans Crossroads and Longwood, after pushback from residents and funding challenges. That version was pegged at $797 million and would have displaced 76 residents and businesses.NCDOT is now working on a new route option, with environmental review continuing through 2027. Right now, NC right-of-way acquisition isn’t funded — so construction on our side of the line isn’t coming anytime soon.We’re going to stay on top of this one — if NCDOT opens up another round of public feedback or schedules hearings, we’ll let you know right here.Sources: StarNews (July 28, 2026), WMBF, and the NCDOT project page.