news-record.com

THOMASVILLE — The N.C. Department of Transportation will close the bridge on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive/Jacob Street over Interstate 85 Business Loop in Thomasville Wednesday as part of a bridge replacement project.

Crews will demolish the bridge in order to build a new span in its place.

The DOT has posted electronic message boards along the road to inform motorists about the closure.

Once it is in effect, signs will guide drivers along the detour route.

The detour is from Cooksey Street to N.C. 109 to Midway School Road to Whitehart School Road. The DOT urges motorists to respect speed limits and pay attention while traveling through the work zone.

The $1.3 million contract to replace the bridge was awarded to Lee Construction Co. of the Carolinas Inc. based in Charlotte.

The new bridge is scheduled for completion 180 days after work begins, weather permitting.

The existing bridge was built in 1950. While not considered unsafe, the DOT maintains that the bridge has outlived its expected lifespan and no longer meets the needs of today's drivers.

"The new bridge will help move goods and people more efficiently through this area. It will also improve safety. By raising the height of the bridge from 17.5 feet to 19 feet, (the) DOT will help prevent accidents involving tractor-trailers and other vehicles with large loads," the agency reports.