SC monitors damage to bridge in North Myrtle Beach

NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (AP) — Transportation engineers are taking a wait and see attitude before deciding on permanent repairs to a 3-year-old expressway in North Myrtle Beach.

The Sun News of Myrtle Beach reports (http://bit.ly/I9ipB5 ) that engineers found a dip in the road last month and concrete cracking under the bridge on the Robert Edge Parkway. The parkway connects downtown North Myrtle Beach with the Carolina Bays Parkway across the Intracoastal Waterway.

The parkway opened in 2009.

DOT engineer Dennis Townsend says it’s not clear what caused the dip but tests show the pavement is sound. Concrete on one side of the bridge cracked because of water penetrating the bridge.

Officials say the bridge is safe but the speed limit has been lowered. DOT is awaiting an engineer’s report before making permanent repairs.

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Information from: The Sun News, http://www.thesunnews.com/