MARION — A contractor for the N.C. Department of Transportation will begin shifting westbound traffic on Interstate 40 at exit 112 in Valdese starting at 8 p.m. tonight.
Drivers heading toward Morganton and then Old Fort should anticipate delays in this area until the shift is complete early Monday morning. The westbound on- and off-ramps ramps will remain closed until Wednesday morning.
Westbound traffic will be moved to a temporary bridge that will allow crews to begin demolition as part of a project to replace both I-40 bridges at this interchange. Eastbound traffic will not be impacted.
This shift will include temporary closures on the Mineral Springs Mountain Road exit at times over the weekend. Signs will alert drivers to the closure prior to exits 111 and 113, which will provide the alternate routes.
The project to replace both bridges started in the summer of 2018 and is scheduled to be finished in the spring of 2019 at a cost of $12.3 million.
Motorists are encouraged to pay attention when approaching the work zone, obey the posted speed limit, follow posted detours, and allow extra time to reach their destinations safely.