The NC Department of Transportation will close a section of Joyner Bridge Road south of Four Oaks on Monday, Nov. 23, for the replacement of the bridge over Mill Creek. The new bridge is expected to open to traffic by late April 2016, weather permitting.
The bridge, which was constructed in 1975, is classified as structurally deficient and functionally obsolete. This means that the bridge is safe for use; however, it has required significant maintenance. It was also built to design standards no longer in use.
Because of its condition, NCDOT posted a weight limit restricting single-axle vehicles weighing more than 21 tons and trucks weighing more than 26 tons from using the bridge. The new bridge will be built by S.T. Wooten Corp. of Wilson to modern design standards and will not have a posted weight limit.
During the $1.16 million replacement project, through traffic will use Shaws Pond Road, Devils Racetrack Road and Strickland’s Crossroads Road to travel around the construction site. Local traffic will be able to access Joyner Bridge Road, but will not be able to cross the replacement site.
