North Myrtle Beach: Main Street Connector scheduled to open in 2009.

The Main Street Connector will be open for traffic as early as July 2009, but not later than Fall of 2009.

Greg Tuttle, site manager for bridge contractor Cape Romain, said that the Main Street Connector will be turned over to SCDOT for traffic in July 2009, according to a report by Jim Hulen, North Myrtle Beach Online.com .

Tuttle said, “The bridge is 71% complete. We put the last beam in place yesterday [December 15th]. There will be no lengthy blockage of the waterway from here on out. We will only be moving cranes.”

Bill Haley, SCDOT regional office, said they are hoping to have the bridge open in July but, making allowances for weather and other causes for delay, it could be Fall of 2009 but, despite some local news report, he could not foresee the opening being as late as into 2010.

The bridge has a total span length of 230 feet.

Source: North Myrtle Beach Online.com