BladenOnline received some questions about the North Carolina Department of Transportation projects. Andrew Barksdale, NCDOT Public Relations Officer for Divisions 2, 4 and 6, gave answers to the questions.
Question – Why did the Elwell Ferry close after it just reopened?
Barksdale answered, “We discovered this week the employee used by our new contractor doesn’t have his CPR certificate from the American Red Cross, which is required of our contract employees when operating this ferry. This is an oversight of the contractor.”
Elwell Ferry resumed just last week after more than two and half years due to hurricane damage. Barksdale added, “We hope to get the CPR credentials by next week.” Once the operator is CPR-certified, NCDOT can resume the ferry service.
Question – Why is Highway 53 closed, and when will it reopen?
Barksdale reported that the NCDOT maintenance in Cumberland County was planning to start a project to replace four crossline drainage pipes in close proximity to each other along NC 53, from the Cumberland-Bladen Co. border northward to Johnston Road in Cumberland County.
The detour would have extended down NC 53 into Bladen County.
However, that work didn’t start this week as planned, even though digital signs for a day or two said the highway was closed. It’s not closing yet to through-traffic.
Barksdale said in an email, “Our maintenance crews are not ready to do the work just yet. When we start, we want to work as fast as possible, including night work, and hope to reopen that stretch of NC 53, after it closes, in about a week’s time.
The new start date is tentative Oct. 31.”
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