CARBONTON – Work will soon resume on a bridge project at the border of Chatham and Lee counties that has faced several setbacks related to weather and construction.
Work on a new bridge on N.C. 42 over the Deep River near Carbonton began in the spring of 2018, but hurricanes and contractor issues led to the project being delayed twice and ultimately stalling a few months ago.
In June, the N.C. Department of Transportation terminated the original contractor’s right to work on the project, leaving the bonding company, U.S. Fire Insurance Co., to secure a new contractor. Each of NCDOT’s contracts requires the contractor to have a bonding company in case a situation like this develops.
The bonding company notified NCDOT this week that it has selected Smith-Rowe LLC of Mount Airy as the replacement contractor for this project. Smith-Rowe is expected to mobilize at the work site by Sept. 9. The project is now anticipated to be complete by the end of the year.
The project delay and shift in contractors will not cost the state any additional funds, as a bond secures the completion of the original contract and any additional costs.
Existing detour routes will remain in place until the project is complete, with passenger vehicles using Carbonton, Harrington and Steel Bridge roads and truck traffic using U.S. 15/501, U.S. 421 and N.C. 902 to avoid the construction site.