RALEIGH – The N.C. Department of Transportation recently awarded a contract to replace a bridge over Big Branch at Delco Prosper Road near the Columbus/Bladen County line. The work will include paving, adding drainage and replacing the structure.

Work can begin as early as January 2016 and is scheduled to finish no later than October 2016. The bridge currently sees about 1,433 vehicles daily with average daily traffic expected to increase to 2,100 per day by 2035.

The original bridge, built in 1951, is part of the department’s statewide program to improve the condition of the state’s bridges.

The Tara Group of Lumberton is the contractor for the $726,000 project.

This is one of four road and bridge projects awarded last week, worth $27.8 million. The contracts were awarded to the lowest qualified bidder, as required by state law.