RALEIGH — The N.C. Department of Transportation has awarded a contract to replace the bridge on U.S. 13 over White Oak Swamp north of Windsor in Bertie County.

The $2 million contract was awarded to S.T. Wooten Corp. of Wilson. The project includes replacing the existing bridge with a new structure that will be built to current design standards.

The bridge, located just south of the US 13 / NC 305 intersection, was constructed in 1924 and is classified as structurally deficient and functionally obsolete. This means it has remained safe for use, but is in deteriorating condition and needs to be replaced. The bridge was also built to design standards that are no longer in use.

Work on the project can begin as early as June 30, with the bridge scheduled to open in September 2015. The entire project should finished by March 2016.

An on-site detour bridge will be built parallel to the existing bridge prior to the beginning of construction. Motorists will use the detour to continue along U.S. 13.

This is one of the 14 road and bridge contracts worth $82.5 million recently awarded by NCDOT for projects across North Carolina. The contracts were awarded to the lowest bidders, as required by state law. The low bids received on the projects were 5.5 percent, or $4.5 million, below NCDOT estimates.

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