Toms Creek bridge project planned

PILOT MOUNTAIN — A major bridge-replacement project is poised to begin this summer near the town of Pilot Mountain.

It actually will involve the construction of two new bridges over Toms Creek on U.S. 52, including both the northbound and southbound portions of the four-lane highway.

No alternate routes will be required during the work, thanks to a detour bridge to be built in the center median between the existing bridges and used by traffic as each is replaced.

The contract for the project recently was awarded by the N.C. Department of Transportation to a Mount Airy construction company, Smith-Rowe LLC.

It has much experience in bridge and road construction since being formed in 1983.

Smith-Rowe was allowed to begin work on May 29, according to Michael Poe, DOT engineer for Division 11, which is based in North Wilkesboro and includes Surry County.

However, it likely will be a couple more months until the bridge construction actually begins, according to Jody Phillips, a Smith-Rowe official.

One preliminary step already has taken place.

“The DOT hired another contractor to go in earlier this spring and clear the trees in the right of way,” Phillips said of the area around the bridges.

Sometime after the July 4 holiday period, a heavy travel time that crews want to avoid disrupting, Smith-Rowe personnel will begin implementing traffic-control measures during that month.

The company is hoping to start some type of construction in August.

Earlier this month, Smith-Rowe was working on design plans for the detour bridge to submit to the DOT, Phillips said.

The bridge on the southbound portion of U.S. 52 will be addressed first.

Southbound traffic is to be routed onto the detour bridge while the old bridge in that portion is removed and the new southbound one is constructed.

That process will be repeated with the northbound bridge.

The construction will last for some time, 18 to 24 months, and be an intensive undertaking, officials have said.

A $3.6 million price tag earlier was given for the project at Pilot Mountain, including both state and federal funding, which later was increased, according to previous reports.

Earlier plans called for the project to begin in 2023.