Special to the Daily Journal

ROCKINGHAM — The N.C. Department of Transportation recently awarded a contract to resurface more than 13 miles of roads in Richmond County.

Resurfacing routes include 7.3 miles of U.S. 1 between Hamer Mill Road and the South Carolina state line, as well as shorter sections of U.S. 74 Business and N.C. 177, and four secondary roads.

Work can begin as early as Aug. 3 and is scheduled for completion by June 30, 2016.

The project will involve asphalt surface treatment. This work is part of NCDOT’s yearly resurfacing for roadway preservation. Pavement preservation is like changing the oil in your car, as basic maintenance can help avoid more expensive repairs later. It’s important to make minor improvements to good roads regularly because it delays major road repairs that are much more costly, time-consuming and disruptive to motorists, DOT officials say.

The contractor crews will repair cracked or weathered pavement, which will extend the life of the roads, reduce further maintenance needs and increase motorist comfort and mobility.

Hudson Paving of Rockingham is the contractor for the project, which was awarded to the lowest bidder as required by state law.

This is one of 21 road and bridge projects recently awarded by the Department of Transportation. The contracts are worth $229.3 million, which is $9.1 million below NCDOT engineers’ estimated cost.