As Murrells Inlet growth booms, so does the traffic. Here’s what leaders are doing about it

In the past two years, Benjie Andrews, a Murrells Inlet resident, has seen traffic along the inlet grow into a problem.

It used to only be a problem five months out of the year due to tourism, said Andrews, who operates Seaside Market. But now the traffic issue is year round.

Stacy Johnson, director of the community nonprofit Murrells Inlet 2020, agreed.

“We no longer have a season like we may have had 10, 15 years ago,” she said.

The number of vehicles and pedestrians swells along Highway 17’s main drag, where many local restaurants are located. It gets especially busy around dinner hour, when many people come to enjoy the views of the sunset against the marsh.

There’s also a huge influx during special events such as the Spring Bike Rally, in which thousands of motorcyclists converge on the area each year.

“It’s good that they are willing to go down to the Marsh Walk and enjoy themselves,” Andrews said about the number of people. “It just needs to be upgraded with progress.”

One of the biggest things Murrells Inlet 2020 does is put out a community survey to address residents’ concerns, Jackson said. The nonprofit will put out another one later this year to hear concerns on safety and traffic, she said.

Andrews points to one intersection he said is dangerous, Highway 17 Business and Sunnyside Avenue, near the Waffle House.

Some successes that have come out of the community survey include projects such as revamping Morse Park, starting a farmers market and creating a bike pass, according to Johnson.

The Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office also held a community listening session on June 26 to discuss the increase in traffic.

Traffic stops have increased over the past year

The Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office saw an increase of 192 traffic stops in the Murrells Inlet area from the previous year until now. That’s a 3.71% increase, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Specifically around the Marsh Walk, there have been 76 stops in 2023, more than double the number in 2022.

Georgetown County Sheriff Carter Weaver said that since becoming sheriff, one of the main complaints from residents has been traffic enforcement.

He said that ticket writing has been added to deputies’ daily tasks, so the numbers have gone up and will continue to go up. But it’s dependent on other calls.

“Obviously, our main responsibility is life and property,” Weaver said. “And we’re answering calls for service. So our ticket writing is dependent upon how many other calls for service we’re getting during the same periods of time, so it ebbs and flows.”

Safety features added to Murrells Inlet area

The Sheriff’s Office has installed seven flock cameras, which identify stolen vehicles and vehicles owned by wanted felons, in the Murrells Inlet area.

The speed on U.S. 17 from Wachesaw Road to Hammock Avenue has also been reduced from 35 to 25 mph as part of the Sheriff’s Office’s effort to alleviate traffic problems. This road has about 7,700 travelers a day, according to the department.

The Sheriff’s Office said earlier last week that it also was looking into increasing the lighting around restaurant row.

Andrews said lighting in the area, along with sidewalks, would make the area a lot safer and solve a lot of issues with pedestrian traffic. Turn lanes around congested intersections also would be a good addition.

“I just think it needs to be pedestrian friendly,” he said.

He added that the Sheriff’s Office does an excellent job, and crime is not a main issue in the area.

“(Crime) doesn’t even crack the surface of what goes on in other places,” he said.

Sheriff’s Office wants to avoid another ‘Broadway at the Beach’

The Sheriff’s Office has been working with restaurants around the Marsh Walk to avoid a “Broadway at the Beach” atmosphere, referring to the popular shopping center and entertainment venue in Myrtle Beach that has several restaurants that stay open past midnight.

While many restaurants on the Marsh Walk close around 10 or 11 p.m., such as Wicked Tuna and Creek Ratz, there are a few bars that stay open past midnight. Uncle Tito’s is open until 2 a.m.

The department said it would also work with South Carolina State Parks to reduce traffic impact at the Huntington Beach State Park entrance.