Motorists on Holbert Cove Road, about four to five miles west of Saluda really have been seeing traffic lights, not a typical occurrence in that relatively lightly traveled area.

The lights have been posted beyond either end of a construction area where NC DOT has replaced the former bridge over Little Cove Creek, straightened out that portion of road, and added guardrail to each side of the roadway.

Currently, only one lane is open to traffic. That’s expected to change in about two weeks.

A separate crew has cleared the lane that has been closed to traffic.

DOT officials have named the project Polk County Bridge #200, according to NC DOT resident engineer Aaron C. Powell of the agency’s Mills River office.

“It was replaced with a concrete box culvert,” Powell continued, noting that the construction cost will be about $390,000. No weight restriction had been placed on the old bridge, and none will be on the replacement.

Powell noted, “Box culverts are used where possible, since there is less maintenance. The project straightened out approximately 300 feet of roadway. There is 138 feet of new guardrail on each side of the road. The latest estimate is to have the road open to two-way traffic sometime the week of September 12.”