CHAPEL HILL – Construction on roads in Chapel Hill is picking up momentum after weeks of rain.

The three big projects are located at Smith Level Road, Weaver Dairy Road, and South Columbia Street. Resident engineer Chris Kirkman says a little extra work has gotten the projects going again.

“Yea it did slow it down, but in the last week–Columbia street for example–we were able to get a lot done, and get a lot done this week so we’re able to regain momentum,” Kirkman says. “They worked this past weekend Saturday and Sunday.”

Kirkman says he’s use to working against the weather to complete a project.  However, he says the rain this summer has been the biggest opponent while working on the roads.

“This year obviously, looking at the weather data that this has been unbelievable as far as rainfall the past June and July, fortunately we were able to regain a lot of momentum last week and this week,” Kirkman says

Although rain has slowed construction on the roads during summer, hurricanes could pose similar threats.  Kirkman says the construction teams are working to complete the roads by their estimated deadline.

“We would get the section between 86, or MLK, that end of it all the way down to the round about, hopefully that will be done by late August,” Kirkman says.

Kirkman says Smith Level is estimated to be completed in May 2015, and South Columbia will be completed around December 2014.

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