DOT: ‘No engineering solution’ to fix flooded parts of NC 133

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Heavy rain and flooding had parts of Highway 133 closed for several days. Today the road is open but concerns about regular flooding still have some people talking.

Officials closed the highway near Funsten Road last Friday, and deputies removed the signs Thursday afternoon.  Frustrated drivers spoke out about the issues in that area on the Southport NC Traffic Facebook page.

“We already know in advance that with any minor rain even, it will become impassable,” one resident said.

“One would think since 133 is used by so many tourists to get to our beaches it would be better taken care of,” another added.

NCDOT spokesman Brian Rick said for some locations with low elevations, like NC 133, sometimes the best option is to let nature take its course. Rick said there has been discussion about possible fixes but that engineering solutions are extremely expensive and can also have huge impacts on local communities and ecosystems. He added that last year a hydraulics study was performed to assess the situation, but there was no engineering solution for the area after the study.

According to Rick, the reason the DOT has not done anything, like the temporary road they built at Edgewater Club Road in New Hanover County, is because there are detour options on NC 133, unlike at the Edgewater Club Road location.

“The areas that we know tend to have flooding issues over there typically are between the Daws Creek Rd. and the Funsten Rd., Orton curve area,” said Scott Garner, the Brunswick County fire marshal and deputy director for Emergency Management.

Garner said the DOT works closely with Emergency Services to help folks get where they need to be safely in the case that an emergency does arise.