BOONE – The N.C. Department of Transportation soon will shift traffic to the first half of a new bridge on N.C. 105 over the Watauga River.
On Monday, drivers may see periodic delays as final paving operations are finished at the N.C. 105 and Broadstone Road intersection. After 7 p.m., crews will begin shifting traffic to the first half of the new bridge, weather permitting.
Active construction will continue throughout the night as crews adjust traffic signals and install pavement markings, concrete barriers and other traffic control measures to assist with the shift.
“We are excited to reach this milestone in the project and look forward to construction of the second phase of the bridge structure now that most of the required grading has been accomplished,” said Ivan Dishman, NCDOT division construction engineer for Watauga and seven other counties in northwest North Carolina. “This is an important corridor for Avery and Watauga counties. NCDOT will continue to minimize impacts to traffic as much as possible as construction continues on the second phase.”
Once traffic is shifted to the first half of the new bridge, crews will remove the existing bridge to build the rest of the new bridge in its place. Motorists should allow additional travel time, avoid distracted driving and obey posted signs and flaggers.
Wright Brothers Construction began construction on the $48.7 million project in fall 2022. All construction is anticipated to finish in late 2027.
For real-time travel information, visit DriveNC.gov or follow NCDOT on social media.