Road Construction Projects Delayed Due to Recent Rains

Good things come to those who wait — but it appears commuters on Dorchester Road and a few other locations in the county will have to wait a little longer. 

Construction along Dorchester Road, Cooks Crossroads, Old Fort Drive and the intersection of Highway 78 and 27 is experience difficulties with the deluge this month and in June, according to Donnie Dukes, senior vice president of Davis & Floyd. Davis & Floyd is the project manager for the Dorchester County One Cent Sales Tax Transportation Authority, which is funding the projects. 

"We've been hit by this rain," Dukes said. "Every time we get ready to do productive work, the crew is out there doing corrective work."

Project completion for Dorchester Road was scheduled for November but now it's on track to be completed first quarter of 2014, Dukes said. Two other hiccups have added to the delay: waiting on utilities and a problem with the pavement base along the road.

Dukes said the transportation authority investigated pavement not forming correctly on Dorchester Road. According to the investigation, the base did not have enough cement. The contractor L&L will strengthen up the base, Dukes said.

While end dates are always written to take into account rain days, contracts usually account for normal rain. June and July's excessive rain has exceeded the number of rain days expected, Dukes said.

"This is very unusual rain here. We've had more rain in June and July than in years," he said.

Once the rain subsides and the ground dries up, crews will still have problems this winter laying down pavement, which can only be laid down on warm days, Dukes said. 

Cooks Crossroads has already passed its expected deadline and is now expected to be finished by end of August.

Construction on Old Fort Drive and the improvements to 78 and 27 are expected to remain on schedule. Both are expected to be completed in 2015.