Keeping U.S. 74 Moving: $22.9M Road Upgrade
For Construction Pros
Equipment | Rental | Concrete | Asphalt | Pavement | Technology | Business | Infrastructure | Workwear | Magazines | Newsletters | Sign In
Production | Business Application | Topics
- Equipment
- Rental
- Concrete
- Asphalt
- Pavement
- Technology
- Business
- Infrastructure
- Workwear
- Exclusives
- New Equipment Directory
- IRONPROS
- Spec Guides
- White Papers
- PAVE/X
- Podcasts
- Videos
- Webinars
- CONEXPO
- Expert Insights
- Events
- Magazine
- White Papers
- Expert Columns
- Awards
- Profit Matters
Asphalt: Application and Paving
Keeping One of North Carolina's Busiest Beach Routes Moving
How one contractor navigated a compressed schedule, seasonal traffic, and complex logistics to rehabilitate U.S. 74.
Chris Collins
Oct 18, 2026
S.T. Wooten
S.T. Wooten is currently leading a $22.9 million project to update a 17.5-mile section of U.S. 74 through Columbus County between Whiteville and Lake Waccamaw.
Article Summary
S.T. Wooten is managing a $22.9 million rehabilitation project on a 17.5-mile section of U.S. 74 in North Carolina, using GPS-guided technology and strategic scheduling to upgrade this busy beach route while maintaining traffic flow around seasonal restrictions.
- Project Length: 17.5 miles
- Location: Columbus County between Whiteville and Lake Waccamaw
- Completion Date: June 2027
- Work Window: 5.5 months per year (no construction between Memorial Day and Labor Day)
Project Scope
Approximately 120,000 tons of asphalt will be used, requiring about 35 trucks daily to haul material from Wilmington.
- GPS-based Scanning: Improves milling accuracy and ensures consistent 3-inch depth and 2.5% cross slope specifications.
- Bridge Preservation: Six existing bridges will be preserved through waterproofing, joint replacement, and fiberglass-reinforced pile jackets.
Challenges and Solutions
Every summer, thousands of travelers rely on U.S. 74 to access North Carolina's popular southern beaches, making it one of the state's busiest seasonal transportation corridors. That popularity also makes it one of the more difficult highways to repair.
Given the project's tight window within working seasons and restrictions on weekend work, the team must carefully coordinate when work begins and ends to avoid fines.
"For instance, if the asphalt plant went down on a Thursday, and we couldn't finish the paving on time, we would be fined LDs through the weekend," said Area Paving Manager Brandon Britt.
Despite these challenges, the project is progressing well.