OLD FORT – A contractor for the N.C. Department of Transportation will begin repairing a bridge on U.S. 70 that crosses Mill Creek, Commerce Street and the Norfolk Southern Railroad as soon as Feb. 14.
NHM Constructors of Asheville will close the bridge to safely make the necessary repairs. The work will consist of overlaying the existing bridge deck with latex modified concrete and repairing the substructure and the reinforced concrete girders.
The repairs require the closure of the I-40 East exit ramp to U.S. 70 (Exit 72). Truck traffic desiring to exit I-40 East will to continue to Parker Padgett Road (Exit 75). Local traffic may take Catawba Avenue (Exit 73) and then Old U.S. 70 and Orchard Street to avoid the closure. An average of 2,400 vehicles per day use Exit 72.
The $1.6 million contract provides NHM six months to complete the repairs and reopen the bridge to traffic by Aug. 11.
NCDOT inspects and maintains more than 18,000 structures across the state, including more than 150 in McDowell County alone.