ALBEMARLE — The North Carolina Department of Transportation recently announced that it has awarded a $1.2 million resurfacing contract that will smooth over a trio of roads within Stanly County.
In a combined span approximating 2.5 miles, the contract includes improvements to segments of U.S. 52 in Albemarle, N.C. 742/205 in Oakboro, and Falls Road in Badin.
The contractor, J.T. Russell & Sons Inc. of Albemarle, will be able to begin the resurfacing project as early as April this year with a completion estimated for the fall of 2026, according to a Dec. 31 press release by the NCDOT.
Badin Town Manager Jay Almond told SCJ that the town of Badin will greatly benefit from the resurfacing of Falls Road, which is one of the primary routes in the area and has been the focus of a significant amount of attention in recent years as a “perennial repair target.”
“Falls Road was one of several streets in NCDOT Division 10 slated for resurfacing several years ago, but the pandemic flipped everything completely over, including that list, so it was delayed indefinitely pending reassessment of all projects,” Almond said.
“From the top down, everyone we work with in our district and division offices as well as our Rural Planning Organization committees, has been great to keep Falls Road on the resurfacing radar for the last few years, so the instant condition and need met available resources, it was scheduled.”
Almond estimated that the project will move quickly once it is underway and added that the improved driving conditions on the road will be noticeable for drivers in the town.
Managerial representatives for the city of Albemarle and town of Oakboro were unable to provide updates on the resurfacing project at this time.
The NCDOT’s Traveler Information Management System online viewer is now available for public use at drivenc.gov.