2012 American Tobacco Trail & Bridge (SW-24)

The American Tobacco Trail Bridge is Open. Enjoy!
Project Manager
Edward R. Venable, PE
Email
Phone: 919-560-4326, ext. 30233

North Carolina DOT Project : EL-2921E
Key Project Dates
  • Re-Advertisement for Bids: January 25, 2012
  • Pre-Bid Conference: February 7, 2012
  • Pre-Qualification Deadline: February 8, 2012
  • Bid Opening: February 22, 2012
  • Bridge Assembly in I-40 shoulder in early April, 2013
  • Bridge will be set in place over I-40 in late April, 2013
  • Anticipated date to open the southern trail: March, 2013
  • Anticipated date for bridge completion: February 2014
  • Bridge completed and opened: February 20, 2014
Project History: November 2011
The Public Works Department re-advertised the request for construction bids on November 15, 2011. Re-bidding gave the City opportunities to look at cost saving measures, particularly with the bridge construction.

Bids on this project were first opened on July 15, 2011. The low bid of $7,753,042 submitted by Blythe Construction, Inc., was approximately $2 million more than the engineer's estimate and exceeded the funding for the project. Since there was more than 10% difference between the low bid and the engineer’s estimate, the bids could not be accepted and all bids were rejected.
American Tobacco Trail Vicinity Map
Project Description
This project extended the American Tobacco Trail from  NC-54 at Fayetteville Street to the Chatham County line. The length of trail constructed by this project was approximately 4.2 miles and included a pedestrian bridge over I-40.
Paved Trail
The American Tobacco Trail is part of a much longer trail system which runs along the length of the east coast from Florida to Maine. The headquarters office for that trail has recently been relocated to Durham. The construction of this trail segment and bridge will be recognized nationally at it completes a key link in the east coast trail.
American Tobacco Trail Bridge Construction
Funding for the project is being provided from a variety of sources including federal funds from the North Carolina Department of Transportation, and the City of Durham Sidewalk Bond fund.