Road construction in several areas of Polk County has caused concern that parents could experience delays as they take children to school for the first day of the new school year tomorrow.

But N.C. Department of Transportation (DOT) engineer Aaron Powell said he does not expect delays as schools begin the 2010-11 school year Wednesday.

Three projects resurfacing work being done on a section of Hwy. 108 between Tryon and Columbus, construction on another section of Hwy. 108 at Pea Ridge Road east of Columbus and resurfacing work on I-26 have led to traffic tie-ups all around Polk County recently.

Powell said he hoped Wednesday, at the latest, would be the final day of the repaving work on Hwy. 108 between Tryon and Columbus.

Im going to talk to the contractor and tell him not to start Wednesday until after 8 a.m., said Powell.

The project on Hwy. 108 at Pea Ridge Road, which was originally scheduled to end Aug. 19, has been extended until Aug. 27. Crews are working there from 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. on weekdays, and traffic is being detoured around the construction. A hill near the intersection is being lowered to improve visibility and driver safety.

The I-26 resurfacing project, which has moved to the ramps at Exit 67 at Columbus, had traffic tied up late Friday evening. A line of motorists on Westbound I-26 was tied up for about an hour as traffic was backed up beyond the North-Carolina-South Carolina state line.

That project is scheduled to conclude Sept. 30.