Havelock's worst bridge

Its support columns were poured when Calvin Coolidge was president.

The Model T was the most popular automobile on the road.

Havelock's Trader Store was the most successful general store in town.

That was when, in 1924, the N.C. Highway Commission built a narrow concrete span over a twist in Slocum Creek to handle the growing traffic between New Bern and Morehead City.

Today, on what is now Church Road, there are two bronze plaques on either side of the weathered structure that denote its pre-Depression beginning.

The N.C. Department of Transportation lists it as bridge No. 176, but it is the second oldest of 101 bridges in Craven County. It has the third worst sufficiency rating in the county at 22 and is deemed structurally deficient, making it a target for replacement in 2015 according to DOT's latest Transportation Improvement Plan

Skid marks straddle the double yellow line across its length. Large chips in the concrete railing belie past collisions.

"I've been over that bridge a few times over the years. I know it's a tight squeeze," said Susie Vaughan, who lives in the first house one comes to after crossing bridge No. 176 on Church Road.

Her husband, Louis E. Vaughan Jr., said the bridge is entirely too narrow.

"Traffic's terrible coming across it, especially when the big tractor trailers come through," he said. "I used to have a black lab. I used to run with him down there. He just about pulled me over the side one time when a truck came along."

According to DOT ratings of Havelock bridges, the Church Road span is rated as the worst.

"My friends and our kids go down there to fish, and I'm like ‘Y'all be careful. Don't be lollygagging around there,'" said Mark Moseley, who lives near the bridge. "Traffic goes so quick through there. That's been a concern for most parents around here."

Moseley said he remembered crosses at the bridge in memory of someone who died in a crash.

The bridge's narrow width causes most motorists to slow when approaching. When no traffic is coming the other way, cars often slide over the double yellow line, just to create a little more room from the concrete side.

Havelock Police captain David Bratton has been in the area since 1983. He remembers crashes at the site, including one fatality where a man collided with the side of the structure.

Another young driver lost control and crashed into the bridge's concrete railing, Bratton said. A motorcycle once missed the bridge entirely and ended up in the creek, he said.

Various factors combine to make the bridge Havelock's worst. The DOT's sufficiency rating is based on a formula that places 55 percent value on structural condition, 30 percent on serviceability and 15 percent on the bridge's essentiality to public use.

A lower number indicates a poorer bridge.

DOT added supports to the bridge in 1983, and by all measures, it is not in danger of collapsing.

It's just too narrow to handle the 1,600 cars that use the bridge daily, according to a 2006 study.

Two culvert bridges in Havelock were recently inspected and found to be in fair to good condition.

The reports, presented to the city last month, found that the Gray Fox Road culvert bridge over the east prong of Slocum Creek was in fair condition.

According to the inspection by Craig Jones, cracking of asphalt and shoulder erosion was noted, with repairs recommended.

The Woodhaven Drive culvert bridge over Slocum Creek was found to be in good condition, but the culverts need clearing.

John Quill, public works director, said that the city would likely fund repairs for Gray Fox Road next budget year, and Woodhaven Drive in 2010-11. He said Powell Bill funding could pay for repairs.

Currently, the city has budgeted money to replace several culverts along Joe's Branch in the Hollywood Boulevard area. Work should begin later this year.

Other bridge ratings

• Bridge No. 91, built in 1956, is the eastbound lane of U.S. 70 over Slocum Creek. It has a sufficiency rating of 70.9.

• Bridge No. 92, built in 1944, is the westbound lane of U.S. 70 over Slocum Creek. It has a sufficiency rating of 77.3, but is listed as functionally obsolete.

• Bridge No. 33, on Fontana Boulevard over a fork of Slocum Creek near Dick Parker Ford, was built in 1942. It has a sufficiency rating of 74.3 and is listed as functionally obsolete.

• Bridge No. 7, on Greenfield Heights Boulevard over Slocum Creek, was built in 1995. It has a sufficiency rating of 79.2 and is listed as functionally obsolete.

• Bridge No. 93, a five-lane span on U.S. 70 over a fork of Slocum Creek near Dick Parker Ford, was built in 1960, and has a sufficiency rating of 94.3.