Traffic around the Grand Strand, a 30-mile stretch of popular coastline in Myrtle Beach had been problematic for years. In 1998, the South Carolina Department of Transportation contracted Fluor Daniel to solve the problem. The result is a 28.5-mile, $386 million design-build project that was completed in three years and one month ­ seven months early. Additionally, Fluor was able to return more than $300,000 to the DOT in cost savings while achieving 2.6 million safe work hours.

The Conway Bypass is a fully controlled access highway located in Horry County just north/northeast of Conway, South Carolina. The Bypass connects US 17 and US 501, extending a total distance of 28.5 miles. A total of 17 mainline bridges are found throughout the project to span wetlands, railway, and the Waccamaw River.

GM2’s Complex Bridge team was responsible for the design of a critical elevated interchange where the bypass links with US Route 17, an existing major north/south highway. The project consisted of two approach structures and four ramps that tie into the existing structure over the Intracoastal Waterway for a total of 339,877 square feet of interchange. The team worked closely with the contractor, to implement several cost and time saving methods, including a minimized shop drawing process that allowed the contractor to build from construction drawings and the use of proven details, some of which were new to South Carolina DOT.