South Carolina Highway 544
Encyclopedia
South Carolina Highway 544 is a major four-lane highway in Horry County, South Carolina
. The highway is sometimes known as Dick Pond Road near the Socastee
area. The route begins at U.S. Highway 17 Business in Surfside Beach, South Carolina
and ends at U.S. Highway 501
in Conway, South Carolina
near Red Hill, South Carolina
. South Carolina Highway 544 is one of the most frequently traversed highways in the Myrtle Beach
area. It runs in a north–south direction and parallels U.S. Highway 501
for most of its route.
and Myrtle Beach
, built in the late 1930s. When the Intracoastal Waterway
was dug, the Socastee Swing Bridge in Socastee, South Carolina
was also built. U.S. Highway 501
was signed on this route from Conway running south to Socastee. At Socastee, the road followed an east–west direction along the current route of South Carolina Highway 707 through Socastee, continuing through the area that is currently the Myrtle Beach International Airport
, and ending near downtown Myrtle Beach on the road that is now Broadway Street. A more direct (and wider) route running diagonally between Conway and Myrtle Beach was built in the early 1960s, replacing a disused road through the former Conway Bombing and Gunnery Range. U.S. Highway 501
was signed on this path, and South Carolina Highway 544 and South Carolina Highway 707 were created to replace the old route of U.S. Highway 501.
A new bridge to be used in addition to the Socastee Swing Bridge was built in 1993. At that time, South Carolina Route 544 was routed on this new road, and the former road was named Dick Pond Road in reference to a former lake near the intersection of U.S. Highway 17 Business and the route.
Public meetings by the South Carolina Department of Transportation
took place in September 1999 to discuss the widening of South Carolina Highway 544 to a four-lane highway from U.S. Highway 501 in Conway
to the Intracoastal Waterway
, including sidewalks and gutters throughout most of the route. A 90-foot right-of-way was required for the expansion, and the Federal Highway Administration
approved the Finding of No Significant Impact report in January 2000. In February 2001, the road was named in honor of Corporal Dennis Lyden, who was killed on the road in June 2000. Limited areas of six lanes were constructed near the intersection with Phase II of S.C. Highway 31, approved for construction in January 2002.
South Carolina Highway 544 is notable for traversing through many diverse areas of the Myrtle Beach metropolitan area
, including Coastal Carolina University
, several golf courses, many suburban bedroom communities, historic Socastee
, and the tourist-oriented areas near Surfside Beach
and the Atlantic Ocean
.
.
Horry County, South Carolina
Horry County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. This name honored Revolutionary War Hero, Peter Horry. Brigadier General Horry was born in South Carolina sometime around 1743 and started his distinguished military career in 1775 as one of 20 captains the Provincial Congress...
. The highway is sometimes known as Dick Pond Road near the Socastee
Socastee, South Carolina
Socastee is a census-designated place in Horry County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 14,295 at the 2000 census.-History:...
area. The route begins at U.S. Highway 17 Business in Surfside Beach, South Carolina
Surfside Beach, South Carolina
Surfside Beach is a small seaside town in Horry County, South Carolina, United States situated directly south of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Its nickname is "The Family Beach". The population was 4,425 at the 2000 census...
and ends at U.S. Highway 501
U.S. Route 501
-North Carolina business loops:-Virginia business loop:-External links:*...
in Conway, South Carolina
Conway, South Carolina
Conway is a city in Horry County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 16,317 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Horry County and is part of the Myrtle Beach metropolitan area. It is the home of Coastal Carolina University....
near Red Hill, South Carolina
Red Hill, South Carolina
Red Hill is a census-designated place in Horry County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 10,509 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Red Hill is located at ....
. South Carolina Highway 544 is one of the most frequently traversed highways in the Myrtle Beach
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Myrtle Beach is a coastal city on the east coast of the United States in Horry County, South Carolina. It is situated on the center of a large and continuous stretch of beach known as the Grand Strand in northeastern South Carolina. It is considered to be a major tourist destination in the...
area. It runs in a north–south direction and parallels U.S. Highway 501
U.S. Route 501
-North Carolina business loops:-Virginia business loop:-External links:*...
for most of its route.
History
Part of the current routing of South Carolina Highway 544 was the first route between ConwayConway, South Carolina
Conway is a city in Horry County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 16,317 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Horry County and is part of the Myrtle Beach metropolitan area. It is the home of Coastal Carolina University....
and Myrtle Beach
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Myrtle Beach is a coastal city on the east coast of the United States in Horry County, South Carolina. It is situated on the center of a large and continuous stretch of beach known as the Grand Strand in northeastern South Carolina. It is considered to be a major tourist destination in the...
, built in the late 1930s. When the Intracoastal Waterway
Intracoastal Waterway
The Intracoastal Waterway is a 3,000-mile waterway along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States. Some lengths consist of natural inlets, salt-water rivers, bays, and sounds; others are artificial canals...
was dug, the Socastee Swing Bridge in Socastee, South Carolina
Socastee, South Carolina
Socastee is a census-designated place in Horry County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 14,295 at the 2000 census.-History:...
was also built. U.S. Highway 501
U.S. Route 501
-North Carolina business loops:-Virginia business loop:-External links:*...
was signed on this route from Conway running south to Socastee. At Socastee, the road followed an east–west direction along the current route of South Carolina Highway 707 through Socastee, continuing through the area that is currently the Myrtle Beach International Airport
Myrtle Beach International Airport
Myrtle Beach International Airport is a county-owned public-use airport located three nautical miles southwest of the central business district of Myrtle Beach, in Horry County, South Carolina, United States...
, and ending near downtown Myrtle Beach on the road that is now Broadway Street. A more direct (and wider) route running diagonally between Conway and Myrtle Beach was built in the early 1960s, replacing a disused road through the former Conway Bombing and Gunnery Range. U.S. Highway 501
U.S. Route 501
-North Carolina business loops:-Virginia business loop:-External links:*...
was signed on this path, and South Carolina Highway 544 and South Carolina Highway 707 were created to replace the old route of U.S. Highway 501.
A new bridge to be used in addition to the Socastee Swing Bridge was built in 1993. At that time, South Carolina Route 544 was routed on this new road, and the former road was named Dick Pond Road in reference to a former lake near the intersection of U.S. Highway 17 Business and the route.
Public meetings by the South Carolina Department of Transportation
South Carolina Department of Transportation
The South Carolina Department of Transportation is a government agency in the US state of South Carolina. Its mission is to build and maintain roads and bridges and administer mass transit services....
took place in September 1999 to discuss the widening of South Carolina Highway 544 to a four-lane highway from U.S. Highway 501 in Conway
Conway, South Carolina
Conway is a city in Horry County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 16,317 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Horry County and is part of the Myrtle Beach metropolitan area. It is the home of Coastal Carolina University....
to the Intracoastal Waterway
Intracoastal Waterway
The Intracoastal Waterway is a 3,000-mile waterway along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States. Some lengths consist of natural inlets, salt-water rivers, bays, and sounds; others are artificial canals...
, including sidewalks and gutters throughout most of the route. A 90-foot right-of-way was required for the expansion, and the Federal Highway Administration
Federal Highway Administration
The Federal Highway Administration is a division of the United States Department of Transportation that specializes in highway transportation. The agency's major activities are grouped into two "programs," the Federal-aid Highway Program and the Federal Lands Highway Program...
approved the Finding of No Significant Impact report in January 2000. In February 2001, the road was named in honor of Corporal Dennis Lyden, who was killed on the road in June 2000. Limited areas of six lanes were constructed near the intersection with Phase II of S.C. Highway 31, approved for construction in January 2002.
South Carolina Highway 544 is notable for traversing through many diverse areas of the Myrtle Beach metropolitan area
Myrtle Beach metropolitan area
The Myrtle Beach metropolitan area is a census-designated metropolitan area in Horry County and Georgetown County, South Carolina. It consists of Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway, South Carolina and Georgetown.-Counties:*Horry*Georgetown-Demographics:The estimated population of the...
, including Coastal Carolina University
Coastal Carolina University
Coastal Carolina University is an independent, state-supported, liberal arts university in Conway, South Carolina, USA, located eight miles west of Myrtle Beach. Founded in 1954, Coastal became an independent university in 1993. The University enrolls approximately 8,300 students on its campus...
, several golf courses, many suburban bedroom communities, historic Socastee
Socastee, South Carolina
Socastee is a census-designated place in Horry County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 14,295 at the 2000 census.-History:...
, and the tourist-oriented areas near Surfside Beach
Surfside Beach, South Carolina
Surfside Beach is a small seaside town in Horry County, South Carolina, United States situated directly south of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Its nickname is "The Family Beach". The population was 4,425 at the 2000 census...
and the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
.
Major intersections
The entire route is in Horry CountyHorry County, South Carolina
Horry County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. This name honored Revolutionary War Hero, Peter Horry. Brigadier General Horry was born in South Carolina sometime around 1743 and started his distinguished military career in 1775 as one of 20 captains the Provincial Congress...
.
| Location | Mile | Junction | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surfside Beach Surfside Beach, South Carolina Surfside Beach is a small seaside town in Horry County, South Carolina, United States situated directly south of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Its nickname is "The Family Beach". The population was 4,425 at the 2000 census... |
0.0 | Southern terminus | |
| Socastee Socastee, South Carolina Socastee is a census-designated place in Horry County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 14,295 at the 2000 census.-History:... |
1.8 | Full interchange | |
| 4.4 | Exit via Dick Pond Road | ||
| Benjamin E. Thrillkill, Jr. Bridge across the Intracoastal Waterway Intracoastal Waterway The Intracoastal Waterway is a 3,000-mile waterway along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States. Some lengths consist of natural inlets, salt-water rivers, bays, and sounds; others are artificial canals... |
|||
| 6.0 | Partial interchange | ||
| Conway Conway, South Carolina Conway is a city in Horry County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 16,317 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Horry County and is part of the Myrtle Beach metropolitan area. It is the home of Coastal Carolina University.... |
10.5 | Myrtle Ridge Road | |
| 11.4 | Singleton Ridge Road | ||
| 12.4 | University Boulevard | Coastal Carolina University Coastal Carolina University Coastal Carolina University is an independent, state-supported, liberal arts university in Conway, South Carolina, USA, located eight miles west of Myrtle Beach. Founded in 1954, Coastal became an independent university in 1993. The University enrolls approximately 8,300 students on its campus... |
|
| 13.5 | |||
| 14.1 | Northern terminus | ||