Airport Road bridge to be fixed
By Staff Reports
Published in News on March 17, 2010 1:46 PM
Work is expected to begin as early as March 29 to replace a bridge on Airport Road (State Road 1537) over Nahunta Swamp north of Goldsboro.
The state has awarded a $618,688 contract for the work to Sanford Contractors Inc. of Sanford. The project is scheduled for completion no later than Dec. 31.
That project and a bridge replacement in Wilson County are among 30 contracts totaling $165.9 million that have been awarded for highway and rail projects across the state, including eight projects funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Both of the local projects were funded through traditional means.
Gov. Bev Perdue announced the contracts and that the N.C. Department of Transportation awarded the contracts to the lowest bidders, as required by state law.
In addition to rebuilding the bridge over Nahunta Swamp, construction includes work on the approaches on Airport Road and, after construction is completed by Nov. 15, replanting vegetation.
The bridge site will be closed to traffic during construction and a detour will be in place. Motorists will use Norwayne School Road, Governor Aycock Road, U.S. 117, Main Street, Big Daddy Road and Lancaster Road to travel around the construction site.
In Wilson County, the existing bridge on Gardner School Road (S.R. 1507) over White Oak Swamp, north of Saratoga will be replaced. A $544,867 contract was awarded to S.T. Wooten Corp. of Wilson. Work is scheduled to begin as early as March 29, with final completion no later than Dec. 31.
In addition to rebuilding the bridge, construction includes work on the approaches on Gardner School Road and, after construction is completed by Sept. 15, replanting vegetation.
The bridge site will be closed to traffic during construction and a detour will be in place. Motorists will use Holdens Cross Road and U.S. 264 Alt. to travel around the construction site.
"These projects will provide much-needed work for people across North Carolina," Gov. Perdue said. "Not only will they stimulate the economy by putting people to work, they will have a long-term impact on commerce by improving critical transportation infrastructure."
According to the Federal Highway Administration, every $1 million spent on transportation creates 30 jobs, and according to the construction industry, every dollar invested in transportation generates $6 in economic impact.
For more information about funding for infrastructure improvements in North Carolina, as well as other DOT projects and activities, visit www.ncdot.gov.