WILMINGTON – A bridge damaged by a container truck last week will be replaced instead of repaired, the N.C. Department of Transportation has determined.
The Castle Hayne Road bridge that spans Smith Creek has been closed since last Friday morning after sustaining damage. Crews inspected the bridge on Monday and have since reviewed data, permanently closed the bridge, so that it can be replaced with a modern structure.
The steel truss bridge was built in 1930 and was up for replacement. Construction on the new bridge can begin this summer. More details about the contract, including design and timeline, are still being determined.
Drivers should continue to use N.C. 133 and Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway (U.S. 74) as a detour. NCDOT suggests drivers plan ahead for the commute, as it may take longer than normal and remain alert around the closed bridge and future construction site.
For real-time travel information, visit DriveNC.gov or follow NCDOT on social media.