Multisite hanges on new site creation

Thanks in advance.

I setup a multisite install on bluehost.

The root site works fine. It is not in the root directory. When I create a new site it hangs here /wp-admin/network/site-new.php?action=add-site
If I click reload it gives me an error that says that site has already been created. When I go back to view all sites the new sub site (created with a directory not a subdomain) is listed but when I go to view it, the link takes me to the root site.

I feel like it’s the htaccess file but I’m using what the network settings say to use and I’ve tried a few variations all to no avail (other than breaking the site completely).

Any thoughts?