The Carolina Bays Parkway (CBP) extension project involves the development of a new multilane full control of access highway facility. In South Carolina this facility will extend the CBP from SC 9 northerly approximately five miles to a logical terminus at the South Carolina / North Carolina State line. The North Carolina Department of Transportation in coordination with the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) is concurrently developing a feasibility study to extend the multi-lane facility from the state line approximately five miles northeasternly to US 17 in Brunswick County, North Carolina.

The development of this new controlled access facility is intended to provide a more direct and efficient movement of north-south traffic seeking to bypass congestion within the Calabash, Little River and Grand Strand areas and will be the integral part of the proposed Interstate 74 where it would extend into South Carolina from North Carolina. Development of this project will also improve traffic flow and safety at the SC-9/S-57 Intersection and provide a more direct route for coastal truck traffic moving through North Carolina.

The purpose of the feasibility study is to examine the area for potential opportunities and challenges (such as impacts), receive public input and feedback, and develop cost estimates for the project. Recommendations from the study are only conceptual in nature, not the product of extensive environmental or design studies, and are subject to change without notice. At this time, there is no funding for additional phases of the project.

Initial efforts by the SCDOT and NCDOT have been made to establish preliminary coordination with permitting and resource agencies to ensure ample consideration of the project's potential for impacting cultural and natural resources within the area. Input from these agencies has been considered and incorporated during the development of this important project.

Prior to conducting public information meetings in both states, the current study had identified six alternative corridors. Based upon input gathered during the first North Carolina public information in February 2004, NCDOT decided to expand the study area and examine two additional corridors, while also consolidating two corridors (due to similarities).