The Cape Fear River bridge girder replacement work that was scheduled to begin Monday, May 2 and was to result in the closing of the road for two hours each day has been delayed, according to NCDOT’s Kenneth Clark.
There is an issue with crane rotation that will not be fixed by Monday, according to Clark. A technician is being brought in to correct the problem. Clark said the work may begin either Tuesday or Wednesday.
When replacement of the 42 girders, the bridge on US 701 in Elizabethtown will be closed for an hour in the morning (9-10 a.m.) and an hour in the afternoon (2-3 p.m.). A tractor-trailer will offload the girders onto the bridge when it’s closed to traffic.
During the closures, the contractor will allow ambulances and law enforcement vehicles to cross the bridge, even with the girders resting on the bridge. Because fire trucks are too large, Elizabethtown town officials will plan to park a fire truck on the northern end for mutual aid during the closures twice each weekday.
The closures will last until the girders can be set into place, which is estimated to be May 25. There will be no closures on Saturdays, Sundays, or Memorial Day or the Friday afternoon before the White Lake Water Festival on May 21.
The Town of Elizabethtown has announced that Tory Hole Park will be closed during the construction period.
About Author
