HALIFAX – A bridge that opened on the eve of World War II in Halifax County has reached the end of its life span.
The N.C. 561 crossing at the Conocannara Swamp, southeast of Halifax, is deemed structurally deficient, which means it increasingly requires repairs and temporary closures for maintenance. It was built in 1939.
The N.C. Department of Transportation will replace it with a modern structure this year. The agency has recently contracted the project to National Bridge Builders LLC of Kernersville for $2.2 million.
The contractor will begin by late March and must complete the project by fall 2022.
To minimize impacts to the traveling public and emergency personnel, a prefabricated bridge will be set alongside the existing one. Traffic will be detoured onto the temporary bridge while the existing one is demolished and replaced.