TARBORO – The N.C. Department of
Transportation will replace the N.C. 42 bridge that spans the Tar River in
Edgecombe County.
The department in June awarded a $7.5 million contract to S.T.
Wooten Corp. of Wilson to build a two-lane bridge alongside the existing one,
which was built in 1952 and has vehicle weight limits.
The current bridge, which carries on average 1,600 vehicles a day,
will remain open during construction, except for a two-week period to install a
drainage pipe associated with the project.
It will take about two years to complete because the contractor
will be restricted from doing work in the Tar River at certain times of the year
due to environmental construction moratoriums.
Once the new bridge is opened in 2020, the old one will be
demolished.
This was one of 25 road and bridge contracts recently awarded by
the N.C. Department of Transportation. Per state law they went to the lowest
qualified bidder for each project. The contracts are worth nearly $630
million.