UPDATE: Engineers deemed the bridge safe for motorists and reopened Meacham Road on Friday evening. The original press release is below.
STATESVILLE – The N.C. Department of Transportation will close a lane of Interstate 40 West in Iredell County to perform an emergency bridge inspection.
Engineers discovered damage from an apparent bridge strike to the underside of the structure on Meacham Road over I-40, between Exits 150 and 148, before noon Friday.
Transportation officials closed the Meacham Road bridge and the right lane of I-40 West near the bridge to allow engineers to safely inspect the damage.
The right lane of I-40 is expected to reopen once the inspection is finished this afternoon. Meacham Road will remain closed near the bridge until engineers deem it safe for motorists. Drivers can detour around the bridge closure using Gregory Road, N.C. 115 (North Center Street) and Northside Drive until the bridge reopens.
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