A Columbus County junction of two highways will be reconstructed into a bridge with ramps to boost safety and quicken travel, according to the N.C. Department of Transportation.
The intersection on N.C. 87, which is now a four-way stop and will become an overpass, is a popular route from Fayetteville to beaches on the North Carolina coast.
A state highway contractor will build the interchange where N.C. 87 and N.C. 11 cross near Sandyfield, which is northwest of Wilmington. The project will carry N.C. 11 over N.C. 87, which will be widened to four lanes in the vicinity. On and off ramps will be built to connect the two highways, according to a DOT news release.
DOT awarded the $36 million contract to Balfour Beatty Infrastructure Inc. of Wilmington.
The contractor will build a bridge over N.C. 87 while maintaining traffic on N.C. 11. After completion, traffic on N.C. 11 will be shifted onto the new bridge.
“This highway is an important corridor in southeastern North Carolina and a popular route to area beaches,” said Drew Cox, who oversees the department’s Division 6. “This interchange will vastly improve the safety, traffic flow and operation of this intersection.”