The expansion of N.C. 211 is a vital lifeline for one of the fastest-growing regions in North Carolina. Stretching 7.2 miles between Southport and St. James, this $216 million NCDOT project is transforming a heavily congested two-lane road into a four-lane divided highway. Beyond just easing the daily commute for residents, this corridor serves as a critical hurricane evacuation route for Brunswick County's coastal communities. The project is rich with logistical complexity, requiring the construction of seven new bridges to traverse the delicate marshlands and waterways that define the Cape Fear landscape. As of winter-2025, the project has surpassed the 50% completion mark, with crews working day and night to meet a final completion date in late 2027. 

Caton Construction Group was selected as a key subcontractor to spearhead the bridge construction, bringing a reputation for handling high-stakes structural projects across the Mid-Atlantic. Known for their "Safety First, Quality Always" mantra, Caton has a long history of successfully navigating the environmental sensitivities and technical demands of coastal bridge building. Their expertise is particularly evident in their ability to manage large-scale deep foundation work while maintaining strict production schedules. The company's deep bench of experienced operators and engineers makes them a premier fit for a project where the stability of seven different bridges rests on the precision of the foundation installation. 

To tackle the challenging coastal soils, Caton deployed a specialized equipment package from International Construction Equipment (ICE®). The team utilized an ICE® 66C Vibratory Hammer to efficiently seat large-diameter steel pipe piles through the initial sandy layers. Just like all ICE® vibratory hammers, this powerful piece of equipment was equipped with Hydrauli-Flex™ hoses, which were selected for their superior durability and resistance to the high-pressure demands of the 66C's hydraulic system. Once the piles reached the denser strata, Caton then switched to an ICE® D-30 Diesel Impact Hammer to drive the pipes to their final design depth. This dual-hammer approach, rented from ICE® to ensure peak performance and local support, allowed the crew to maintain high production rates while meeting the rigorous load-bearing standards required for the new bridge at Dutchman Creek and beyond. 

The successful progress of the N.C. 211 widening project is a testament to the hard work of the Caton Construction Group teams, who are often working under the cover of night to keep Brunswick County moving. The local community and the thousands of seasonal travelers already look forward to the "breeze" this new infrastructure will provide, replacing long queues with a smooth, safe transit. International Construction Equipment is happy to support Caton's mission, providing the reliable power and specialized tools needed to build the foundations that will carry this region into the next decade. We thank Caton for their continued trust in ICE® technology to get the job done right and look forward to supporting the next phase of this project. 

Learn more about the ICE® 66C & ICE® D-30 

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Media Contact-             
Pollyanna Cunningham, MA, MBA        
Vice President       
ICE® - International Construction Equipment, Inc       
The Hose Company          
Office - 704-821-8200       
Email - marketing@iceusa.com / info@hydraulichose.com