$4.4 million contract awarded for bridges

CHARLOTTE – The N.C. Department of Transportation has awarded a $4.4 million contract to Devere Construction Inc. to replace two bridges on U.S. 29 that cross Mallard Creek in the northeastern part of the city, according to a DOT news release.

Work may begin as soon as April 28 and is scheduled to be completed by Aug. 1, 2016, the DOT said.

During construction, N.C. DOT first will close the southbound bridge on U.S. 29, requiring a seven-month detour along Mallard Creek Church Road, Interstate 85 and Harris Boulevard.

Once the southbound bridge reopens, the northbound bridge will close, and the southbound bridge will maintain two-way traffic. This project will be concurrent with construction associated with Charlotte’s project to extend the light rail line from Uptown to UNC Charlotte.

This is one of 25 road and bridge contracts worth $71 million recently awarded by N.C. DOT for projects across the state. The contracts were awarded to the lowest bidders, as required by state law. The low bids received on the projects were 1.2 percent, or $845,000, below N.C. DOT estimates, the release said.