RALEIGH – The following are highlights from this week at the N.C. Department of Transportation. The stories below are also featured in
NCDOT Now, the department's weekly newscast.
One Road Closure Remains from Isaias
Only one North Carolina road remains closed due to Hurricane Isaias, which came ashore in early August.
At the Category 1 storm's peak, 45 state-maintained roads closed temporarily. As of today, Lake Wendell Road in Johnston County is the only road still closed from the storm, due to the shoulder washing out and a pipe collapsing. It's unclear when the road will reopen.
For the most up-to-date traffic information, visit
drivenc.gov.
Bladen County Bridge Construction
Work is underway to replace the twin U.S. 701 bridges over the Cape Fear River in Bladen County, halfway between Fayetteville and Wilmington. The northbound bridge was closed last year due to damage caused by prior hurricane flooding. It is
now being torn down, and NCDOT has awarded a
$23 million contract to replace both spans with a single structure scheduled to open in 2024.
Drone Program Competing for Top Transportation Award
It's the last few days to vote for an NCDOT drone program that has been named a finalist for a national transportation award.
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials has named NCDOT's Drone Medical Delivery Program as one of the “Top 12" projects in the 2020 America's Transportation Awards. The Top 12 are eligible for two top prizes - the Grand Prize, awarded by a panel of judges, and the People's Choice Award, which is determined by an
online vote from the public.
You can help the department earn the People's Choice Award by going online and voting for NCDOT's drone medical delivery program. You can
vote daily through Oct. 25 and the winner will be announced in November.
Booze It & Lose It
As we continue to share safety tips due to October being statistically the deadliest month on North Carolina roadways, we remind you to never drink and drive.
Next week is the beginning of the
Governor's Highway Safety Program's Halloween
“Booze It & Lose It" anti-impaired driving campaign. Drivers will see increased high-visibility law enforcement across the state during the nationwide event.
Driving while impaired can be deadly and expensive. Motorists caught driving while impaired could face jail time, the loss of their driving privileges, and pay an average $10,000 fine, in addition to other expenses associated with a DWI.
For more information about NCDOT Now, contact the NCDOT Communications Office at (919) 707-2660. Additional news stories from throughout the week can be found on
NCDOT.gov.