​PILOT MOUNTAIN - The N.C. Department of Transportation is replacing a small old bridge with a span meeting modern design standards.
Crews closed a section of Simmons Grove Church Road over Flat Shoal Creek in Elkin today to begin a project that should take six weeks, weather permitting.
Drivers will be directed along one of the following 5-minute detours:
- From Simmons Grove Church Road, head north and take Simmons Road to Cook School Road.
- From Cook School Road, travel south to Simmons Road. Then take Simmons Road to Simmons Grove Church Road.
The existing 63-year-old bridge had a weight limit of 12 tons for standard vehicles and 17 tons for trucks.
The new bridge will have no posted weight limits. It will be 25-feet wide with 42-inch-tall guardrails and concrete abutments.
This is one of 25 bridge replacement or rehabilitation projects NCDOT is executing this year in the eight-county region of Division 11.
Motorists are reminded to slow down and use caution when approaching the work zone and detour routes.