Work Begins on Ocean Boulevard Underground Power Conversion & Utilities Project in the Crescent Beach Section of North Myrtle Beach

The City of North Myrtle Beach has contracted with R.H. Moore Company, Inc. to perform the Ocean Boulevard Underground Power Conversion & Utilities Project in the Crescent Beach section of North Myrtle Beach between 15^th Avenue South and 28^th Avenue South. The work begins the week of November 28 and will occur in phases over several years.

The project includes placing overhead power and communications utilities underground, and installing water and sewer system upgrades. The cost of the power and communications utilities conversion is about $7.3 million, and the cost of the water and sewer improvements is about $3.5 million.

The first phase on Ocean Boulevard, will start this week at 21^st Avenue South and progress south. The work will occur during the winter and spring. The contractor will then demobilize for the summer of 2017 and return to work in September 2017, continuing at 21^st Avenue South and progress north to 15^th Avenue South.

As the work proceeds, Ocean Boulevard will be closed in two block increments, with Perrin Drive being used to detour traffic around the work zone. The contractor will maintain access to all properties fronting Ocean Boulevard.

Also, the City of North Myrtle Beach will take bids for widening and roadway improvements to Ocean Boulevard during the spring of 2017. The project will widen Ocean Boulevard from 17th Avenue South to 28th Avenue South from two lanes to three lanes, including sidewalk installation, intermittent landscape medians, and drainage improvements.  Construction on the improvements is scheduled to begin in September 2017 on the section of Ocean Boulevard between 21^st Avenue South and 28^th Avenue South. The roadwork contractor will demobilize for the summer of 2018 and return in September 2018 to complete the section between 21^st Avenue South and 15^th Avenue South. The total project cost of $4,500,000 is funded by SCDOT through GSATS, with design and right-of-way cost about $1 million and construction cost currently estimated at $3.5 million.