SYLVA – Construction is scheduled to begin soon on the replacement of an 80-year-old bridge in Dillsboro.
The N.C. Department of Transportation recently awarded a $14 million contract to Wright Brothers Construction of Charleston, Tenn., to replace the bridge on Haywood Road (U.S. 19 Business) over Scott Creek and Southern Railroad.
Construction may begin as early as July 29. The contract calls for completion in February 2023. The details call for the project to maintain the existing one lane of traffic heading in each direction with limited lane closures.
“This is a complex project because of the constraints of working in a tight area and a need to keep traffic moving in this location,” Division 14 Bridge Program Manager Adam Dockery said. “There are a lot of little aspects — most are things that folks won’t see everyday — that go into making this project a success for residents and visitors.”
The project will require marked temporary detours to help traffic flow between Dillsboro and Sylva. Traffic will be rerouted on a temporary bridge on U.S. 23 Business, another bridge connecting the two sections of Old Home Town Road.
A small bridge over the creek will be built for construction equipment and employees. The project also includes a retaining wall and a new sidewalk leading to Monteith Park.
This is one of six road and bridge projects recently awarded by the Department, at a cost of nearly $53.8 million.