DOT: “Causeway project ahead of schedule”

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — The NC DOT plans to work through the holidays to meet an upcoming deadline on the Causeway Project connecting Brunswick County to New Hanover County. DOT officials say that work will not lead to lane closures affecting the holiday traffic.

DOT Engineer Wanda James says the part of the project they are working on is actually in the river. They have to meet a deadline of January 1 due to a moratorium that concerns marine life in the area. James says the project is actually ahead of schedule by a little more than three percent and crews will be able to work after the deadline due to the nature of the work. James says if they get the permanent casings into the water before the deadline, they will not be in violation of the moratorium.

“As long as they have their permanent casings, which they have to drive first in the ground, they can drill inside those casings,” James said. “So that work is going to continue on.”

Drivers like Adriana Belevan say while she knows the project is worth it, drivers have lately become more hostile on the roads.

“People yell at each other. We never blew horns at each other, nobody cursed nobody out, but lately it’s ugly,” Belevan said.

Part of the project, opening a third lane heading south from the battleship to the Brunswick River bridge, should be complete by the summer. Click here for the handout from the NCDOT in PDF form

James says during the holidays the DOT is not allowed to have any lane closures during these time periods:

Starting December 19 at 6:00 a.m. through December 30th at 8:00 p.m.

December 31 at 6:00 am through Januard 2 at 8:00 p.m.