The state Department of Transportation plans to resurface two of the town’s main east-west roads this spring. New pavement is planned for Concord Road from Main Street to the new roundabout at East Rocky River Road, and East Rocky River Road from the roundabout east to the Cabarrus County line.
The projects are part of a $4.3 million contract that NC DOT awarded recently to Ferebee Corp. of Charlotte. All the work is due to be completed by Aug. 1.
Davidson public works chief Doug Wright said Monday the work is badly needed. Although Concord Road is a state road, it’s the subject of many complaints he hears from Davidson residents.
“Concord Road is in very poor condition and the town has been asking NCDOT to address it for a while. We’re glad they’re doing so,” Mr. Wright said.
The resurfacing follows construction of the new roundabout last year. [Although that work was mostly finished in September, workers were back at the roundabout this week installing a concrete "apron" on shoulders around the circle where drivers have been going onto the grass, Mr. Wright said Monday.]
The work also follows the town’s own street resurfacing project last year on town-maintained streets. See below.
CONCORD AND ROCKY RIVER WORK
The Concord Road work will encompass 1.9 miles from downtown to the roundabout. And 2.7 miles of East Rocky River Road will be resurfaced from the roundabout to the county line.
Both roads will have existing pavement removed in a process known as “milling.” The roads then will be resurfaced with new asphalt, and re-striped.
Some lane closures may be needed during the work, but Mr. Wright said he expects the roads to remain open.
Mr. Wright said some details of the work have yet to be resolved with the DOT and Ferebee, including how stamped decorative crosswalks on Concord Road near Davidson College will be re-installed.
Mr. Wright said he’ll be meeting with the contractor and NCDOT on April 15 to discuss the work, which could begin later in the spring.
RELATED COVERAGE
July 29, 2009, “Summer roadwork to repair town’s worst streets.”
July 29, 2009, “Cyclist maps potholes and prompts repairs.”
PRESS RELEASE
Here’s the text of a press release from Gov. Beverly Perdue announcing the projects:
NCDOT CONTRACTS TOTALING MORE THAN $138 MILLION AWARDED
Including $4.3 million for Mecklenburg County road improvements
For Immediate Release
Date: February 18, 2010
Contact: Communications Office, (919) 733-2522
RALEIGH — Gov. Bev Perdue announced today that 43 contracts totaling $138.3 million have been awarded for highway and bridge projects across North Carolina, including 12 projects funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The N.C. Department of Transportation awarded the contracts to the lowest bidders, as required by state law.
“These projects will make a difference in the lives of North Carolinians,” Perdue said. “Not only will they improve the roads our citizens drive on, but they will also create or sustain jobs vital to the economy.”
According to the Federal Highway Administration, every $1 million spent on transportation creates 30 jobs, and according to the construction industry, every dollar invested in transportation generates $6 in economic impact.
In Mecklenburg County, a $4.3 million state-funded contract was awarded to Ferebee Corporation of Charlotte for milling, resurfacing and shoulder reconstruction of 16.2 miles of roadway, including:
· 0.9 miles of N.C. 49 (University Boulevard) from east of the Target shopping center to the Harris Teeter driveway;
· 0.8 miles of Brookshire Boulevard (N.C. 16) from the bridge deck at I-85 to the concrete pavement joint;
· 1.4 miles of Woodlawn Road (State Road 3814) from east of South Boulevard (S.R. 3998) to Park Road (S.R. 3687);
· 1.4 miles of Sugar Creek Road (S.R. 2975/2974) from south of U.S. 29 (North Tryon Road) to Eastway Drive (S.R. 2940);
· One mile of Brown-Grier Road (S.R. 1143) from Arrowood Drive (S.R. 1138) to Steele Creek Road (N.C. 160);
· 2.7 miles of East Rocky River Road (S.R. 2420) from the Cabarrus County line to Davidson-Concord Road (S.R. 2448);
· 1.9 miles of Davidson-Concord Road (S.R. 2693) from N.C. 115 to East Rocky River Road (S.R. 2420);
· One mile of Westmoreland Road (S.R. 2147) from West Catawba Street (S.R. 5544) to U.S. 21;
· 0.7 miles of John Kirk Road (S.R. 2833) from University Boulevard (N.C. 49) to Mallard Creek Church Road (S.R. 5394);
· 1.2 miles of Reames Road (S.R. 2483) from Old Statesville Road (N.C. 115) to Harris Boulevard (N.C. 24);
· 0.7 miles of Caldwell Road (S.R. 2801) from the Cabarrus County line to Back Creek Church Road (S.R. 2827);
· 1.2 miles of North Polk Street (S.R. 4982) from Pineville-Matthews Road (N.C. 51) to the I-485 bridge deck; and
· 1.3 miles of Rea Road (S.R. 3624) from east of Colony Drive to Old Providence Road.
The project can start as early as March 15, and is scheduled to be completed by Aug. 1.
For more information about funding for infrastructure improvements in North Carolina, as well as other NCDOT projects and activities, visit www.ncdot.gov.
