New contracting company hired to help with Highway 17 bridge construction

Highway 17 bridge construction on schedule

JACKSONVILLE -

Smith-Rowe, LLC Construction Company out of Mt. Airy, NC is now contracted under Barnhill Contracting to help finish the Highway 17 bridge renovations, according to David Candela, resident engineer for the Jacksonville-Onslow Department of Transportation.

Candela says crews are working up to the completion deadline, which is July 22.

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Kathryn Bynum owns the Ark Drive-In on South Marine Boulevard in Jacksonville. Her restaurant is caught in the middle of construction, construction on the Highway 17 bridge that's made it harder for her cusomters to stop in. Bynum says her business took a hit, losing hundreds of dollars a day.

Candela says the $11.8 million construction project began in August 2010.

But the road project took a detour in early fall 2012.

"The original contractor had some financial difficulties, and I believe
filed for bankruptcy, ending up being replaced by the company who bonded the contract," Candela said.

He says this caused construction to stop for several months. Those at the transportation department are working with a bonding company to find a new bridge contractor to finish the work on the bridge by July 22. Candela says he doesn't believe this will delay road work past this deadline.

Bynum hopes it's all over soon.

"I really do think that once the bridge is finished, I think it'll be a
really good service for all of us," Bynum said.