RALEIGH -
N.C.
Department of Transportation Secretary Gene Conti has awarded an $11.9 million
contract to DeVere Construction Co. of Alpena, Mich., to replace the pair of
bridges on I-26 eastbound and westbound between NC 191 (Brevard Road) and
Interstate 40 in Buncombe County.
The
bridges were constructed in 1966. The bridges are considered structurally
deficient. While the bridges are still safe, they require extensive maintenance
and repair and needed to be replaced.
Work can
begin as early as Oct. 1 and should be completed by Nov. 1, 2015. The highway will remain open during construction except for occasional nighttime lane closures.
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.
For more
information about funding for infrastructure improvements in North Carolina, as
well as other NCDOT projects and activities, visit www.ncdot.gov.
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