South Carolina can move forward with plans to build the northern leg of I-73 now that federal officials have approved the environmental review for the project.


Federal officials signed the record of decision (ROD), completing an environmental review process that started 39 months ago for this project. Despite accommodating more than 25 state, local and federal regulatory agencies, including the state Departments of Transportation in both North and South Carolina, the time needed for the project's environmental review was faster than the 50-60 months typically needed, according to the DOT.

"We can cut red tape without cutting corners to move important transportation projects forward and still safeguard our natural resources," said Federal Highway Administrator Thomas J. Madison.

Federal Highway Administrator Thomas J. Madison will honor members of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) project team with a special award next month in Washington, D.C., for their work in streamlining this project.

Coupled with approval of the ROD for the southern segment, which was signed on Feb. 8, today's ROD signing completed the FHWA's environmental actions on the I-73 corridor from Hamlet, N.C., to the Grand Strand/Myrtle Beach area. The SCDOT is now cleared to begin right-of-way acquisition and to engage in public and private financing options which can bring the project to completion more quickly.

South Carolina was the first state to move forward under the FHWA's Interstate System Construction Toll Pilot Program, which gives the state authority for tolling and allows other states to expand 1-73.

In 2006, the state passed legislation allowing the state's Transportation Department to impose and collect tolls to build the 90-mile Interstate 73 across the northeastern corner of the state. In August 2007, the federal government approved plans to use tolls.

Plans call for I-73 to eventually stretch from South Carolina's Myrtle Beach to Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., crossing six states. The highway could take 10 years to complete, according to published reports.