WILMINGTON - At the New Hanover-Pender County line, the N.C. Department of Transportation has started a construction project to build two bridges at Fishing Creek on U.S. 421.
Last fall, NCDOT installed a temporary bridge after the area sustained the State’s largest washout from Hurricane Florence.
This new project includes the installation of two bridges, north and southbound. Both will be two lanes at 562-feet long. By putting bridges at that location instead of installing a culvert pipe under the highway, the area will have a lot more capacity for flood water to go under the bridge during major storms.
NCDOT has contracted ST Wooten Corp. for the project with an estimated cost of $8.2 million.
Crews have started on the southbound side. Once it’s complete, the northbound side will be installed. Until the first bridge is completed, drivers will not be impacted, and the temporary traffic pattern will remain the same. Drivers are urged to remain alert and adhere to the work zone speed reduction as work will continue though spring of 2020.
For real-time travel information, visit DriveNC.gov or follow NCDOT on social media.