Southbound traffic crossing the Cape Fear River bridge in Elizabethtown will continue to use the old bridge through the weekend, according to N.C. Department of Engineer Kenneth Clark.
The plan now calls for southbound traffic on U.S. 701 to resume use of the new bridge Monday morning, according to NCDOT. Northbound traffic has been using the new bridge since late April.
NCDOT shifted southbound traffic back to the old bridge Thursday because of pavement concerns in the newly paved median crossover on the north side of the river.
Clark was hopeful that southbound traffic could be shifted back to the new bridge Friday and expects repairs to be finished Friday, but decided with Friday’s higher temperature that it would be better to wait until Monday to give the fresh pavement three overnight cool down periods before allowing two-way traffic on the new bridge.
Once repairs have been done and two-way traffic is open on the new bridge, the old bridge will be demolished in order to finish constructing the four-lane bridge.
Construction began on the new bridge in 2020 after NCDOT awarded a $23.3 million contract. The bridge is scheduled to be completed in spring 2024.
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