By Joy Warren
During the Annual budget Retreat on March 15th, Elizabethtown Town Council heard an update from Mr. Ken Clark, District Engineer for NCDOT. Clark presented an update on the Cape Fear River Bridge Replacement Project which is on schedule for May 2024 completion.
Clark informed the Council that the girders will be set starting May 2nd and expected completion date is May 25th if daytime work is utilized. Placement would extend to mid-June if night-time work is utilized. There will be intermittent closure of US 701 requested to off-load the girders. DOT will need to close traffic 30 minutes, four times a day with there being no closures on Saturday, Sunday, or Memorial Day weekend.
The NCDOT is evaluating Planned/Scheduled daily closures from 9–10 a.m. and 2–3 p.m. on weekdays. Special considerations will be to schedule a meeting with the Town, County, and Emergency Response in early April. NCDOT will begin intensive media efforts and will contract with Law Enforcement for traffic control. There will be additional message boards to alert drivers. Any emergency response needs will be handled through the on-site inspector to arrange passage of emergency vehicles which will extend closure time.
Once the girders are set, the bridge deck will be poured and deck work will last through December 2022. Upon deck completion, traffic will shift to the new bridge. The existing southbound bridge will be demolished Spring 2023. Phase II of the construction will begin Summer 2023 with completion by May 2024. The periphery work, to include paving the Tory Hole Park Access, will be completed by October 2024.
Clark also noted that the Lighting by Encroachment project for the area of US 701/NC 87 Bypass Interchange will include outdoor lighting. DOT will be responsible for underground conduit work and the Town will determine light fixture style and pay a monthly fee for lighting.
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