A new signal at Hwy. 369 and Doc Bramblett Road is the latest in the ongoing series of improvements at six intersections along the well-traveled state route.
But it appears the lingering cold weather will hold up any additional progress for the time being.
“The final layer of asphalt, it’s very temperature sensitive,” said Teri Pope, a spokeswoman with the state Department of Transportation.
“We have to have temperatures warmer than about 50 degrees to do that. So there is more work to come once temperatures warm up.”
The recent frigid stretch has halted progress at Hwy. 369 where it meets Jot Em Down, Shady Grove and Waldrip roads.
The highway’s crossings with Holtzclaw and Hendrix roads are complete.
The work at the Doc Bramblett crossing will take about 10 days to complete, but the “asphalt has to cure for about 30 days before we can do the striping,” Pope said.
“The temperatures and the rain have really got us on this and all of our construction projects,” she said. “Our construction season is typically March through November ... this is kind of a dead time for road work all over.
“We’re ready for spring to get some work done and get out of the way.”
With the addition of the new traffic signal, DOT engineer Brent Cook cautioned drivers to be careful.
“Typically, five rear-end crashes occur in the first year after a signal is installed, because it is new and people aren’t expecting to have to stop,” he said.
“Please slow down through the area and use extra caution until you get familiar with the new signal location.”
The $4.04 million Hwy. 369 improvement project, which was hampered by the weather for much of 2009, is being funded by the state and Forsyth County’s 1-cent sales tax.
The intersection work includes raising the grade of the road, improving sight distance and, in some cases, realigning the intersections.
But it appears the lingering cold weather will hold up any additional progress for the time being.
“The final layer of asphalt, it’s very temperature sensitive,” said Teri Pope, a spokeswoman with the state Department of Transportation.
“We have to have temperatures warmer than about 50 degrees to do that. So there is more work to come once temperatures warm up.”
The recent frigid stretch has halted progress at Hwy. 369 where it meets Jot Em Down, Shady Grove and Waldrip roads.
The highway’s crossings with Holtzclaw and Hendrix roads are complete.
The work at the Doc Bramblett crossing will take about 10 days to complete, but the “asphalt has to cure for about 30 days before we can do the striping,” Pope said.
“The temperatures and the rain have really got us on this and all of our construction projects,” she said. “Our construction season is typically March through November ... this is kind of a dead time for road work all over.
“We’re ready for spring to get some work done and get out of the way.”
With the addition of the new traffic signal, DOT engineer Brent Cook cautioned drivers to be careful.
“Typically, five rear-end crashes occur in the first year after a signal is installed, because it is new and people aren’t expecting to have to stop,” he said.
“Please slow down through the area and use extra caution until you get familiar with the new signal location.”
The $4.04 million Hwy. 369 improvement project, which was hampered by the weather for much of 2009, is being funded by the state and Forsyth County’s 1-cent sales tax.
The intersection work includes raising the grade of the road, improving sight distance and, in some cases, realigning the intersections.