SMITHFIELD – The N.C. Department of Transportation will replace a washed-out culvert with a bridge on Galilee Road west of Smithfield.
A Sept. 1 flash flood washed out part of the road over Arters Branch and destroyed the metal crossline pipe, which the NCDOT had upgraded in the same location after Hurricane Matthew in 2016.
The department decided after a review from its Hydraulics Unit to replace the culvert with a bridge, which will allow a much greater amount of water to safely flow under the roadway.
The NCDOT has accelerated the project by following what is known as an Emergency Express Design-Build process. The team of Wetherill Engineering of Raleigh and Sanford Contractors of Sanford will complete this project for a combined cost of about $1.1 million.
The contractor has prepped the site for construction, excavated the pavement, removed the metal crossline pipe and begun drilling into the ground where the pile foundations will be placed. The contractor also has added stone on the embankment to help prevent further erosion.
The road is scheduled to reopen with the new bridge by next April.