Press release

from N.C. Department of Transportation

N.C. Department of Transportation Secretary Gene Conti has awarded an $11.9 million contract to DeVere Construction Co. of Alpena, Mich., to replace the pair of bridges on I-240/I-26 eastbound and westbound near Exit 1B over Hominy Creek Road in West Asheville in Buncombe County.

The bridges were constructed in 1966. The bridge over I-240/I-26 East is considered structurally deficient. While the bridge is still safe, it requires extensive maintenance and repair and needed to be replaced.

Work can begin as early as Oct. 1 and should be completed by Nov. 1, 2015.

Last year's temporary closure of the bridges on I-240 led to massive traffic tie-ups in West Asheville. (Photo by Bill Rhodes)

This is one of 18 contracts totaling $205.8 million awarded by Conti in August for highway and bridge projects across North Carolina. NCDOT awarded the contracts to the lowest bidders, as required by state law. The bids received on the projects awarded came in about 15.4 percent, or $37.4 million, below NCDOT estimates.

Since Gov. Bev Perdue took office in January of 2009, NCDOT has awarded 697 highway contracts totaling $4.9 billion to ensure that all North Carolinians have access to jobs and educational opportunities. Gov. Perdue continues to support immediate jobs in the construction sector and the goal of ensuring that our transportation network facilitates access to jobs, education and healthcare for the future.