A new proposed interstate, I-73, could potentially create tens of thousands of jobs and billions in revenue for South Carolina with a route connecting Detroit to Myrtle Beach.

The interstate would run through Horry, Marion, Dillon and Marlboro counties, cutting through a portion of the state that was once dominated by the “three T’s”: tobacco, textiles and tourism. With tobacco use down in the U.S. and textiles largely moving offshore, tourism is the only one of the three T’s that has maintained its vigor in the region.

A study by Virginia-based Chmura Economics and Analytics estimates that the interstate would generate 22,347 new jobs in South Carolina, as well as 7,720 jobs during construction, which is projected to take up to five years. It could also open up opportunities for tourism, retail and distribution sectors, injecting $2.1 billion into the state and allowing distributors to reach up to 60 percent of the U.S. population within a day's drive.

Interchanges and exits are expected to bring new jobs to each of the four counties while also providing interstate access to Myrtle Beach – the busiest tourist hot spot in the country lacking an interstate.

The road is expected to boost tourism by 7 percent by giving visitors a better way to drive to and from the beach, says Brad Dean, the president and CEO of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce.

“During the busiest times of the year, our biggest competition isn’t other destinations — it's infrastructure," he says. “For many tourists now, the first and last impression of Myrtle Beach is a traffic jam.”

Dean, who chairs the National I-73/I-74/I-75 Corridor Association which is seeking funds for the route, says the biggest impact “may be on the rural areas that desperately need an economic lifeline.”

Plans for the route are moving forward. The South Carolina Department of Transportation recently voted to invest $105 million to start construction on a 6-mile stretch of I-73 in Dillon County. By initiating completion of this portion of the freeway, local leaders hope to raise national interest in the project.