By Jim Hulen, North Myrtle Beach Online.com

DECEMBER 16, 2008 NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, SC – According to Greg Tuttle, site manager for bridge contractor Cape Romain, the Main Street Connector will be turned over to SCDOT for traffic in July 2009.  This is the same date they reported to North Myrtle Beach Online.com this past June.

Tuttle said, “The bridge is 71% complete.  We put the last beam in place yesterday [December 15th]. There will be no lengthy blockage of the waterway from here on out.  We will only be moving cranes.”

Tuttle went on to say that they have asked for an extension from SCDOT to August 21, 2009 but that will include cleaning up punch list items.  The connector will be available to handle traffic in July.

Bill Haley, SCDOT regional office, said that are hoping to have the bridge open in July but, making allowances for weather and other causes for delay, it could be Fall of 2009 but, despite some local news report, he could not foresee the opening being as late as into 2010.

The bridge has a total span length of 230 feet.  The span segments are made in Savannah, Georgia and brought to North Myrtle Beach by barge.

Marine Contractors since 1946, Cape Romain Contractors specializes in Marine Construction and Highway Concrete Bridge Services. Among their construction activities are Fishing Pier Construction, Boat Salvage, Bucket Dredging, Cofferdam Construction, Pier Construction, Bridge Construction, Intake Installation, Subaqueous Pipeline, Diving, Pile Driving, Concrete Rehabilitation, and Concrete Joint Repairs.

Clientele includes the South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia Departments of Transportation, the US Army Corps of Engineers, the US Navy, the US Coast Guard, and several Water Authorities and Ports Authorities, Westvaco, Milliken, Amoco, and many other private owners and associations.