Multiple Thursday Crashes Block Lanes on Highway 501 and Highway 31
Multiple vehicle crashes on Thursday morning, August 20, 2026, resulted in temporary lane closures on Highway 501 and Highway 31 in Horry County.
Why this matters locally
Highway 501 and Highway 31 are major transit corridors for Grand Strand commuters and visitors. Lane closures in these areas directly impact local traffic flow and travel times.
Lanes were blocked along major Horry County thoroughfares following multiple vehicle crashes reported on Thursday morning, August 20, 2026. The incidents caused localized traffic delays during the morning commute for residents, local business workers, and visitors traveling through the area.
Data from the South Carolina Department of Transportation indicated that one of the collisions occurred on Highway 501 near Myrtle Ridge Drive and Gardner Lacy Road. The impact of the crash resulted in the temporary closure of the two left westbound lanes, restricting the flow of traffic along one of the region's main arteries.
A separate crash occurred on Highway 31 along the Carolina Bays Parkway, where a right lane was shut down to clear the scene. Both Highway 501 and Highway 31 serve as primary commuter paths linking various parts of the Grand Strand and Horry County.
Drivers heading through these corridors were advised to exercise extra caution, anticipate potential residual delays, or seek alternative routes while emergency responders worked to clear the affected lanes.
Quick facts
- Date: Thursday, August 20, 2026
- Locations: Highway 501 near Myrtle Ridge Dr & Gardner Lacy Rd; Highway 31 (Carolina Bays Pkwy)
- Impact: Westbound lane closures on Hwy 501 and right lane closure on Hwy 31
Community brief · prepared from WMBF News — Grand Strand material · original source
