The North Carolina Department of Transportation will hold a public meeting Thursday evening on a proposal to replace two bridges in Pamlico County. Both bridges are located on N.C. 55 between Bayboro and Stonewall. Bridge #36 was built in 1960 and spans the South Bay River. The bridge, deemed structurally deficient, is safe for motorists but some components are in poor condition. Bridge #37, built in 1982, crosses Alligator Creek and is being replaced to mitigate increased maintenance costs. Heather Lane, an assistant division construction engineer with NCDOT, said the proposed bridge replacement project would affect traffic in the area.
“It’s right near a middle school so it’s got a lot of school traffic, it’s got a lot of farm traffic. So it’s definitely the main thoroughfare for that part of the county.”
Lane said construction could begin as early as December 2020. Detours would be in place throughout the 14-month project.
"These bridges will be better for the public and a better bridge structure that will last a very long time," said Lane.
NCDOT is holding a public comment meetingon the bridge replacement project Thursday, Mar. 14 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Pamlico County Courthouse Annex in Bayboro. The deadline to submit written comments on the proposal is March 28th.