Myrtle Beach Boardwalk Well Underway
By Lenore McKenzie-Morris
Photos by Keith Jacobs
Stacks of 6x6 posts and wide lumber line the dunes in Myrtle Beach as heavy-duty, off-road dump trucks roll up and down the other side of the dunes, moving earth in preparation for the crews of carpenters and construction workers that are building a boardwalk just a half mile up the beach.
It's a spectacle that's attracting a lot of attention at the beach these days.
"Every day people come up and ask what we're building," said Mike Guyton, a supervisor with M.B. Kahn, the contractor charged with building the 1.2-mile boardwalk and promenade.
And it's not just visitors escaping from their Myrtle Beach vacation rentals and oceanfront hotels that are taking notice. Brad Dean, president and chief executive director of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, said the boardwalk and redevelopment of the downtown area is attracting interest from businesses and the national media.
"The boardwalk project has prompted a few inquiries from businesses who are intrigued by the redevelopment, mainly retailers and restaurateurs," Dean said. "Once the boardwalk is complete, it will prompt even more inquiries. We've found the boardwalk project, and the evolving story of downtown redevelopment from the Pavilion-era to the Boardwalk era, is a very intriguing story to travel writers. We anticipate a tremendous amount of publicity in 2010 due to this story."
The boardwalk, which broke ground in late September, is expected to be complete in June. Work has progressed on the central section in front of the former Myrtle Beach Pavilion and nearby stores at 9th Avenue North. The framing for the wooden decking is complete here and crews are installing light poles in concrete piers.
Guyton said this area of the project will be done in March as the boardwalk is completed in stages. The company had about 35 employees and subcontractors on the job at the end of December with only brief holidays during Christmas and New Year's.
The Conway-based company was awarded the contract for the $6-million boardwalk. City officials and local business owners anticipate the promenade will attract joggers, bikers and pedestrians to the center of Myrtle Beach's coastline in the same manner that boardwalks do in other beach resorts.
"For many years, Ocean Boulevard was a popular place to visit and hangout, but most of the activity was contained to the street and businesses," Dean said. "The boardwalk will expand that legendary atmosphere wide open, but will also provide a free, enjoyable walkway along some of the most beautiful oceanfront in the Eastern United States. It's sure to draw more visitors to the downtown area, and will enhance the experience of those who current frequent the area."
The northern section will be an 8-foot elevated wooden boardwalk and include serene landscaping to highlight the natural environment. A second section is expected to draw heavier traffic between Plyler Park at Joe White Avenue and 7th Avenue North. With adjacent commercial properties offering diversions, food and products, this area is designated as a high-energy draw for the downtown area. The final phase is laid out as a linear park with benches and informative signs about the wildlife. Dubbed the South Promenade, this segment of the new boardwalk and promenade is meant to be a relaxing environment.
"Because the Grand Strand is dependent upon repeat tourism - about 70 percent of our tourists are repeat visitors - it's important to continually reinvent our destination," Dean said. "While the beach, the affordability and the overall entertainment value are always great draws, offering visitors something new and unique helps to keep our loyal visitors coming back, as well as giving first-time visitors a reason to visit."
The Chamber recognizes the boardwalk is more than just a novelty for the upcoming tourist season.
"The boardwalk is far more than simply a new attraction, as it could become an iconic feature of the Grand Strand," Dean said. "The south end is poised for growth and redevelopment, and with the many improvements underway at Grand Park, the completion of Harrelson Boulevard and the construction of the boardwalk, this could be the beginning of an economic explosion in downtown Myrtle Beach and surrounding areas. It will not only bring more visitors to that part of the destination, but it now gives existing businesses a reason to reinvest in themselves, which will fuel additional growth and create jobs."
I hope that people in wheel chairs will be able to ride the boardwalk . If the boards are laid horizonaly ,and not diagonal then there will not be a bumpy ride. Bumpy makes for wounds on the disabled who are confined to wheel chairs. My Patient got a wound just one trip to the pier . The planks are laid diagonal making ankle wounds worse. If this is the case then the disable will be disapointed.