Work on U.S. 1 between Roberdel Road in Rockingham and Wiregrass Road has been suspended, said G. R. Kindley Jr., Division 8 representative, N.C. Department of Transportation Board.

Boggs Paving of Monroe is actively working along that road only on a private project at the Dollar General Store.

Kindley said the crest of the hill at that location will eventually be cut down to a lower level.

A spokesman for Boggs was not available Friday afternoon.

Kindley said the project has been ahead of schedule using up funds for the project for fiscal year 2008 to 2009. Work will now be done only on a limited basis.

“Nothing along the project will be left in an unsafe condition,” he said.

The new fiscal year for NCDOT begins July 1.

“The money crunch is worse than people think,” Kindley said. “Unless for some reason, the project will again be on-line in a new allocation.”

He said the money the state receives from the gasoline tax and sales of automobiles designated for highway construction is less than expected.

“We are facing a lot of unknown factors,” Kindley said.

“But I am confident the money will be available to continue the work in the next budget year,” he said. “It will not be a big delay.”

The project involves widening the highway to four lanes from Rockingham to Wiregrass Road.

A majority of the work so far has been done between the Food Lion shopping area to Wiregrass Road.

Bridges

NCDOT announced that Thursday contracts were let for bridge work in Richmond County.

The work to clean and paint five bridges is scheduled to start between May 1 and June 30 and be completed 120 days after the start date.

“Proper maintenance of our bridges helps extend the life of the structures, saving the department money,” Kindley said.

Bridges are those on Parson Lake Road, Green Road, two on Ledbetter Road and one on Gallimore Road.

n Contact reporter Tom MacCallum at 997-3111; e-mail tmaccallum@yourdailyjournal.com.