By this time next year, motorists will travel on Woodleaf Road over North Second Creek in western Rowan County on a new bridge. The N.C. Department of Transportation has awarded a $1.3 million contract to replace the existing bridge.
The contract was awarded to Lee Construction Co. of the Carolinas Inc. of Charlotte. Construction is scheduled to start as early as June 25, with final completion set for May 29, 2013.
While the work is under way, the Transportation Department will close the existing bridge, between Goodson and Godby roads, and put a detour route in place. Signs will guide motorists from Woodleaf Road to Statesville Boulevard to N.C. 801 and back to Woodleaf Road.
The existing bridge was built in 1955 and has a sufficiency rating of 2 out of 100. That does not mean the bridge is unsafe, according to the state agency. It means that the bridge was not built to modern design standards and no longer meets the needs of today’s drivers. Replacing the bridge will improve safety, make traffic flow more efficiently and extend the life of the local transportation network.