on february 1, 2005, horry county added the 701 connector to ride 2, its long-term construction plan, with the intention of providing a hurricane evacuation route. edsel "coupe" deville, chairman of the committee advocating road safety that studied possible routes, said the new road would allow surfside beach, garden city, and murrells inlet to leave in half the time. the road would run from carolina bays parkway to u.s. 378, with three of the four possible routes going through the waccamaw national wildlife refuge. the united states fish and wildlife service did not oppose the project, but the coastal conservation league had opposed the road for a decade because of fears the road would damage the environment and hurt wildlife habitat for such animals as bears, birds and salamanders.