CONCORD – The N.C. Department of Transportation is closing Old Charlotte Road next week to remove the Stonewall Jackson School pedestrian bridge that spans over the road. This is the next step to preserve a piece of local history and keep the traveling public safe.
Bridge maintenance crews will close Old Charlotte Road at 9 a.m. Monday to start removing the bridge. During the closure, drivers will be detoured along N.C. 49, Stough Road, and Roberta Road, returning to Old Charlotte Road. The closure will be in place for several days for crews to safely remove the structure and stockpile its materials.
NCDOT first learned of debris falling from the bridge to the road below in the fall of 2023. The bridge is not an NCDOT asset, but with safety being first priority, the Department took immediate action.
After NCDOT performed a thorough inspection of the structure and signage that spans the bridge, officials concluded the sign structure should be taken down and wire meshing should be installed under the bridge to prevent additional material from falling to the road. NCDOT Cultural Resources staff were on site to take pictures and measurements of the bridge and its signage to share with the N.C. State Historic Preservation Office.
These initial steps provided time to determine an action plan for the pedestrian bridge removal or restoration by another agency.