Work underway to repair 3 major roads damaged when recent storm hit the Wilmington area

The unnamed storm that hit Brunswick and New Hanover counties on Sept. 16 washed out roads, including some major thoroughfares.

In the days following the storm, county officials asked residents to limit travel while crews inspected and began repairing roads. Within days, many of those roads were repaired, and travel resumed as normal.

But travel to and from Southport continues to be affected with several washouts near the city leaving only one way in and out. As a result, strike teams, including officers from the Southport Police Department, Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office, the North Carolina Highway Patrol, and the Monroe Police Department from Monroe, N.C., have been on the scene directing traffic.

Since the storm, crews have been working to make repairs and improvements to those damaged highways. Here’s what you need to know about the N.C. Department of Transportation’s progress to repair three major storm-damaged roads.

U.S. 17

According to NCDOT communications officer Lauren Haviland, crews repaired two areas along U.S. 17 — one in New Hanover and one in Brunswick County. Haviland said damage occurred near College Road.

“The shoulder washed out, which required a lane closure,” she said in an email.

Crews re-established the shoulder, completing the project, and the lane re-opened to traffic on Sept. 19.

In Brunswick County, U.S. 17 washed out north of N.C. 87 at Bell Swamp. Haviland said “necessary fill was installed, the should and base re-established, and it was repaved.” The project was completed, and the road opened to traffic on Sept. 23, 2024.

More: Want to know what roads are still closed in the Wilmington area? Here’s how to find out.

More about PTC 8: After major flooding from unnamed storm, Gov. Cooper tours Brunswick, New Hanover counties

N.C. 133

Two areas of N.C. 133 were damaged during the storm: one south of Fifty Lakes Drive in Boiling Spring Lakes and an area at Bridge No. 50, south of Fifty Lakes Drive.

Haviland said in the area south of Fifty Lakes Drive, the triple pipes washed out and a new pipe will be installed.

“Our current expected schedule is for this to be completed and reopened by the end of October,” she said.

Nearby at Bridge No. 50, the bridge approach washed out. Haviland said the necessary fill was installed and the approaches were reestablished on Sept. 29.

“This will remain closed due to the proximity of the pipe closure and will be paved in conjunction with that one,” she said.

N.C. 211

There were three areas damaged along N.C. 211: Beaverdam Creek Bridge near St. James, Dutchman Creek Bridge in Southport, and the CP&L Canal Bridge in Southport.

At Beaverdam Creek, the washout approached the eastern end was backfilled and paved. The bridge re-opened to traffic on Sept. 20.

Haviland said at Dutchman Creek, the existing bridge was compromised due to the washouts has been completely removed.

“Work to install a pipe culvert is underway,” she said. “The pipe culvert will allow for a temporary roadway to be established until a tie-in to the new bridge is possible. Our current expected schedule is for this to be completed an reopened by the end of October.”

The CP&L Bridge was also compromised due to wash outs. Haviland said work is underway to tie N.C. 211 into the new bridge structure that has already been built under the ongoing road widening project. NCDOT officials expect this to be completed and reopened by the end of October.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: NCDOT working to repair roads in Brunswick, Wilmington after storm damage

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