News Title:The new home community of Poplar Oaks is expected to benefit from the RIDE 4 infrastructure project, which will widen US Highway 701 from SC Highway 22 to SC Highway 410—improving traffic flow and accessibility throughout the area.
Poplar Oaks is a new home community coming soon to Conway. Locals will know this area as “Baxter Forks”, a small town near where Highway 410 intersects with Highway 701 a few miles northeast of downtown Conway.
The location of the new home community of Poplar Oaks will soon become even more attractive once US Highway 701 is widened. One of Horry County’s Ride 4 projects involves the widening of US Highway 701 from SC Highway 22 to SC Highway 410 to 4 lanes, improving traffic flow and capacity along this key corridor. Included in this RIDE 4 project will be the addition of turning lanes at key intersections to reduce congestion and improve safety for drivers.
Background on Horry County Road Improvement and Development Effort (RIDE)
In Horry County, 'RIDE' stands for “Road Improvement and Development Effort”. The RIDE program uses primarily local funding sources to make necessary improvements to local roads and transportation infrastructure. These improvements serve those who live and work in Horry County, as well as seasonal visitors.
The first Horry County RIDE program began in 1996 and lasted until 2018. It used funding from the hospitality fee to complete 23 major projects, which included the SC 22 Conway Bypass, SC Highway 31, SC Highway 544 widening, Fantasy Harbor bridge and interchanges, and parts of Robert Grissom Parkway.
RIDE 2 was approved by voters in 2006 and began in 2007. It initiated a one-cent sales tax dedicated to roads. RIDE 2 brought 15 projects, which included the continuation of Highway 31, the construction of International Drive, the widening of Highway 707 and Glenns Bay Road, and a number of other road improvements.
RIDE 3 was approved by voters in 2016 and officially began in 2017, continuing the existing one-cent sales tax program with 20 more projects. Some RIDE 3 projects are already at or near completion, including the Palmetto Pointe Boulevard extension, Carolina Forest Boulevard widening, and Highway 501 frontage roads.
RIDE 3 expired in April of 2025. At that time, barring any further action, the one-cent sales tax funding collection will end and effectively cap the money available for the remaining projects on the RIDE 3 program list.
During the general election on Nov. 5, 2024, a voter referendum took place that approved the proposed RIDE 4 program.
Proposed RIDE 4 projects are located in unincorporated Horry County, within city and town limits, and along major highways and intersections.
Since approved by the voters, the RIDE 4 transportation tax will replace the existing one-cent sales tax (i.e. RIDE 3) with a one-cent transportation sales tax.
Over 25 years, the program would generate an estimated $6 billion in revenue to fund the list of predetermined infrastructure projects and project sets.
Horry County has approved 80 single-family homes on a parcel of land that is approximately 39.76 acres in the new home community of Poplar Oaks in Conway.
Sturzenbecker Development Corporation is developing the land. Sturzenbecker is headquartered in Myrtle Beach and they offer full-spectrum services—from pre-construction and design/build to general contracting and construction management.
Lennar is the builder in Poplar Oaks.
Lennar has not yet released specific home plans for the upcoming homes at Poplar Oaks in Conway.
However, the builder has unveiled the community site map and is expected to begin presales in spring 2026. Homes for sale in Poplar Oaks