S.T. Wooten Wins 2006 Pinnacle Award for Best Heavy Highway Project

Wilson, N.C. -- S.T. Wooten Corporation recently added another accolade to its resume, winning the 2006 Carolinas Associated General Contractors (CAGC) Pinnacle Award for Best Highway-Heavy Project. The award, their second Pinnacle Award from CAGC, recognized the company’s work as prime contractor on the NC 98 Bypass at US 1 in Wake Forest, N.C.

S.T. Wooten was also recognized by CAGC in 2000 as the Carolinas’ Best General Contractor.

“Because S.T. Wooten brings the highest level of professionalism to every project, our customers know they can count on us for a quality job from start to finish,” said Seth Wooten, Jr., president of S.T. Wooten Corporation. “The award winning NC 98 Bypass project is an example of attention to detail, innovative thinking, and a great working partnership with our customer that literally moved mountains.”

The “mountain” in the case of the NC 98 Bypass project was actually a borrow pit. This pit was the source of dirt and gravel used to construct a large embankment at another section of the construction site. The problem was, the borrow pit was on the opposite side of US 1, a major traffic artery that bisected the project.

A number of other factors complicated the traditional strategies that might normally be used. There was no existing bridge, as that too was being built as part of the project. Using trucks to haul the material across the highway was not an option due to potential traffic disruptions, the noise impact on surrounding neighborhoods and the cost. A fragile environment surrounding the site eliminated the possibility of easily creating another route to transport the materials.

The solution was an overland conveyer system that allowed the material to be loaded into bins and transported high above the road on portable conveyer sections. This method, which had never before been used in North Carolina highway construction, was not only effective but also safe and trouble-free for drivers, less disruptive for the surrounding neighbors and instrumental in helping to finish the project six and a half months ahead of schedule.

The entire project consisted of the construction of a new 4-lane divided facility, which included widening, drainage, grading, paving, signals, structures and culverts. Included in the project was a new Single Point Urban Interchange with a two-span bridge and a single set of signal lights to handle all lanes of traffic.

Despite delays in the right-of-way acquisition, major utility conflicts, design revisions, addition of unplanned water and sewer utilities, revised signal plans, and multiple environmental issues, S T Wooten’s performance resulted in saving both time and money.

Carolinas AGC is the largest AGC chapter in the nation with 3,000 member firms. More than 75% of commercial and public construction (buildings, highways/bridges, utility facilities) in both North and South Carolina is performed or supported by Carolinas AGC members.