South Carolina Highway 90

South Carolina Highway 90 is a state highway in Horry County, within the northeastern part of the U.S. state of South Carolina. It travels from Red Hill to Little River. It provides a direct connection from Conway to the northern Grand Strand in Little River.

Route description

SC 90 begins at an intersection with US 378 Truck/U.S. Route 501 Bus./US 701 Truck/SC 90 Truck in the census designated place of Red Hill. SC 90, concurrent with US 378 Truck and US 701 Truck, travels east, first briefly through an area of industrial warehouses, then on a arc curving to the south past numerous houses. After turning to the east again, outside of Red Hill, the density of houses lining the road decreases. The truck routes split off at Old Reaves Ferry Road. Major roads that SC 90 intersects include International Drive and Old Reaves Ferry Road. After an interchange with SC 22, the highway enters the community of Wampee. The highway curves to the southeast at S-Hwy 57 where it heads through open space and farmland. It reaches an intersection with Robert Edge Parkway near [North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina|Myrtle Beach, South Carolina|North Myrtle Beach]. The intersection marks the western terminus of the parkway and is the entrance to the North Myrtle Beach Sports Complex. The parkway also provides access to SC 31.
SC 90 heads east, first under SC 31, then past numerous housing developments. It also passes in front of North Myrtle Beach Middle School. Upon its intersection with Sea Mountain Highway, much more commercial businesses line the highway. The highway also enters the CDP of Little River at this intersection. Shortly thereafter, Old Highway 17 intersects SC 90. It comes to an interchange with US 17 and SC 9, though no access to northbound US 17/SC 9 is provided at the interchange. For its final, SC 90 passes many businesses before curving to the north and ending at an intersection with US 17. Here, the roadway continues as Fairway Drive.

History

South Carolina Highway 90 was established in 1929, routed from the former South Carolina Highway 38 to South Carolina Highway 9. In 1935, SC 90 was extended east over SC 9 to end at US 17/SC 9 in Nixon Crossroads. In the late 1930s, SC 90 underwent several extensions in Marion County, before being truncated in 1952 to its present-day endpoint in Conway.
In 1970, SC 90 was extended east over US 17 to the current SC 90 endpoint.
In 2009, SC 90 was rerouted slightly to accommodate the construction of the Robert Edge Parkway. This provides SC 90 with nearly direct access to the SC 31 freeway.

Special routes

Conway truck route

South Carolina Highway 90 Truck is a truck route of SC 90 that partially exists in Conway and Red Hill. It directs truck traffic onto U.S. Route 501, SC 544 Conn., and US 501 Business. It is loosely signed. Its entire length is concurrent with US 378 Truck and US 701 Truck.

Conway alternate route

South Carolina Highway 90 Alternate was an alternate route that existed in the southeastern part of Conway and the far northern part of Red Hill. It was established in April 1937 and began at an intersection with US 501/SC 90. It traveled to the east and immediately curved to the north-northeast. Just before reaching the Waccamaw River, it began a curve to the southeast and started to parallel the river. Just past the point where the river bent away from the highway, the alternate route curved to the south-southeast. It had an intersection with SC 90 on the Conway–Red Hill line. It continued until it reached its eastern terminus, a second intersection with US 501.

Little River connector route

South Carolina Highway 90 Connector is a connector route of SC 90 that travels on a former segment of U.S. Route 17 in the extreme southwestern corner of Little River. It connects Sea Mountain Highway with SC 90. It is known as Old Highway 17 and is an unsigned highway.