ST. PAULS – Work will start next month on replacing a pair of bridges on South Old Stage Road in northern Robeson County.
The Tara Group of Lumberton Inc. will replace the 53-year-old bridges, which are about 150 feet apart as they cross the Big Marsh Swamp. They can be found here and here on a Google map.
While safe for use, both have become functionally obsolete – a designation that means they no longer meet modern design standards and impose restrictions for heavy vehicles.
The state's Department of Transportation awarded the $1.1 million contract last month.
Because of their proximity to one another, both sites will be closed to traffic at the same time when work begins in September. The contractor will have six months to complete the project and reopen the road.
The short detour will be East Great Marsh Church Road, U.S. 301 and West Broad Street.