The N.C. Department of Transportation has awarded a $1.54 million contract to resurface more than eight miles of roadways in Moore and Lee counties.

The project was awarded to S.T. Wooten Corp., of Wilson. Work may begin as early as March 15, with project completion expected by Aug. 31, according to a news release.

Resurfacing will take place on 3.7 miles of N.C. 24/27 just west of downtown Carthage, between Bethlehem Church Road and N.C. 22. Several sections of Broad Street in downtown Southern Pines also will be resurfaced.

Other areas affected in Moore County are: seven-tenths of a mile of Chalmers Road west of Branch Road and four-tenths of a mile of Preacher Price Road off Phillips Road.

This was one of 39 contracts totaling $203.2 million awarded by Transportation Secretary Gene Conti in the past month for highway and bridge projects across North Carolina, the release said. The bids awarded came in at about 2.9 percent, or $6.2 million, below NCDOT estimates.