DOT to replace bridges in Buncombe, Madison, Mitchell

The N.C. Department of Transportation has awarded an $11.4 million contract to a Mooresville company to replace 11 bridges in Buncombe, Madison and Mitchell counties.

The bridges are classified as either functionally obsolete or structurally deficient — or both — but are safe for the traveling public, DOT said. The bridges were built to design standards no longer in use and require costly maintenance to remain functional, DOT said.

Dane Construction, Inc. may begin work on the bridges as soon as Aug. 25, with project completion scheduled for November 2017.

In Buncombe County, two bridges on Surrett Cove Road over Bald Fork will be replaced, along with a bridge on Bear Creek Road over Turkey Creek and another on Willow Creek Road over Willow Creek.

In Madison County, a total of three bridges will be replaced at: Whitt Branch Road over Little Ivy Creek, Big Laurel Road over Laurel Creek, and Sprinkle Creek Road over California Creek.

In Mitchell County, new bridges will be on: Pigeon Roost Road over Pigeon Roost Creek, N.C. 226 over Spring Creek, Bear Creek Road over Bear Creek, and Froglevel Road over Little Rock Creek.

This is one of the 11 road and bridge contracts worth $43.4 million recently awarded by DOT for projects across the state. DOT said the contracts were awarded to the lowest bidders, as required by state law.