With 14 million visitors annually to the Grand Strand tourism is the driving force to the local economy.
"We're the only tourist destination in the top 10 in the country that is not served by an interstate," said Horry County Council Chairman Tom Rice.
Rice says 90% percent of tourists who head to Horry County's coast drive and the vast majority, 75%, use I-95.
The Grand Strand Coastal Alliance is a group made up of mayors, city and county leaders. They agree bringing in the much talked about I-73 would only increase the amount of people who want to vacation here.
They've come together because it's more effective to speak as one voice.
"Most importantly we can go to Columbia or Washington as a group and campaign for what we need we're all going be on the same page," said Myrtle Beach Mayor John Rhodes.
"Right now we have unique opportunities I think our legislative delegation is as strong as it's ever been," added Rice.
He goes on to say construction of only 45 miles of road is needed to make interstate access to our area a reality, "Horry County has built that interstate inside of our borders, we built Highway 22 out 28 miles to Aynor and we built it as far as we can with our own money, 72% of that money came from horry county."
While tourism will obviously benefit from easy access to the beach, the Coast al Alliance hopes a diversified economy will soon follow.
Tom Rice and South Carolina DOT Commissioner Danny Isaac, who is from Myrtle Beach, plan to meet with Governor Nikki Haley next week to push for I-73.
