DUNN – Pope Road, which crosses Interstate 95 at exit 72 in Harnett County, will be restricted to one travel lane beginning today and lasting several weeks until the bridge can be repaired.
Inspectors with the N.C. Department of Transportation closed the right southbound lane for about two hours on Wednesday morning to examine the minor damage to two of the four steel beams. Damage indicates that an unknown vehicle with a load too high for the legal limits struck the bridge while traveling on I-95.
NCDOT engineers deemed the bridge safe to reopen Interstate 95. But as a precaution, the department will restrict traffic on the overpass via an automated traffic signal, which will allow drivers to take turns using one lane.
This temporary pattern will remain in place on Pope Road for about a month until materials and a company that specializes in steel beam repairs around the United States can repair the damage.