RALEIGH - N.C. Department of Transportation Secretary
Gene Conti has awarded a contract to improve a sharp curve along N.C. 89 near
N.C. 18 between Low Gap and the Virginia state line.
The $1.6 million contract was
awarded to DLB, Inc. of Hillsville, Va. Work can begin as early as Oct. 1 and is
scheduled to be completed by Nov. 28, 2014.
The quarter-mile curve will be realigned near the existing curve and will be
able to accommodate large truck traffic. This curve has seen a high accident
rate, especially for large trucks attempting to navigate the tighter curve on
the mountainous road.
The project will have a temporary
signal installed to allow two-way traffic to utilize one lane as the southbound
lane will be closed during most of the project. This will take place between
Oct. 1 and Dec. 1, 2013. The road also can be closed on Mondays or Wednesdays
from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m., as well as Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
for blasting operations.
When necessary, a
40-mile off-site detour route will be set up. Heading north from Low Gap,
motorists will travel south on N.C. 89 to Interstate 77 North into Virginia. Take
Exit 14 onto U.S. 221/58 toward Galax, Va., then head south on VA 89 into North
Carolina. Southbound traffic will reverse directions.
This is one of 18
contracts totaling $205.8 million awarded by Conti in August for highway and
bridge projects across North Carolina. NCDOT awarded the contracts to the
lowest bidders, as required by state law. The bids received on the projects
awarded came in about 15.4 percent, or $37.4 million, below NCDOT estimates.
Since Gov. Bev
Perdue took office in January of 2009, NCDOT has awarded 697 highway contracts
totaling $4.9 billion to ensure that all North Carolinians have access to jobs
and educational opportunities. Gov. Perdue continues to support immediate jobs
in the construction sector and the goal of ensuring that our transportation
network facilitates access to jobs, education and healthcare for the future.