Staff report
LEXINGTON ó Members of the Davidson County Board of Commissioners are expected to discuss the Wil-Cox bridge when they meet Tuesday.
The bridge presently carries southbound traffic along U.S. 29/70 across the Yadkin River from Interstate 85 toward Spencer. The bridge was to have been demolished as part of a larger project to build a new Yadkin River bridge, but the state agreed to set money aside to save it as a pedestrian crossway.
But Rowan County commissioners earlier this month voted unanimously against the idea, saying it would be too expensive.
Davidson County commissioners are expected to discuss Tuesday if they’re interested in taking over maintenance for the bridge.
The Wil-Cox bridge is one of six in North Carolina that feature the “open-spandrel” design. Officials from both Davidson and Rowan counties have said preservation of the bridge is crucial to create a pedestrian greenway that would link both sides of the river.
The state has to have a decision by Friday so it can move ahead with the Interstate 85 project, according to the N.C. Department of Transportation. The state has applied for a $300 million federal grant from the federal stimulus package, which is the estimated cost for the project.
In 2004, transportation officials said it would cost $375,000 to demolish the Wil-Cox bridge. It would cost $50,000 to install hand rails and $200,000 to fix structural deficiencies to the bridge. Annual maintenance would be $5,000.