January 22, 2013 8:40 PM
As many as 23 miles of Beaufort County's bumpiest roads could get a smooth coat of asphalt this summer.
In all, 17 roads from Seabrook to Hilton Head Island are included on a state Department of Transportation's priority paving list for 2013. Money for the $4.4 million project comes from a federal matching grant that will cover half of the cost, with the rest coming from a $10 county license plate fee and state gas-tax revenue.
Rob McFee, county director of engineering, says he hopes all 23 miles can be completed with the available funds.
"Hopefully, when DOT (seeks bidders for) this work, we will be able to get all these in," he said.
DOT is managing the paving, all of which will be on state roads.
Paving will be done according to a road's ranking on the priority list, so some roads could go untouched if the money runs out, McFee said.
Chris Smith, DOT's resident construction engineer, said it is unknown how much paving can be done with $4.4 million. The main variables -- the cost of materials and fuel when the project goes to bid -- are unpredictable months in advance, he said.
Smith, who works in Beaufort, expects the projects to be bid this spring and work to begin in early summer.
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