BELMONT – A bridge that has carried motorists across the Catawba River between Gaston and Mecklenburg counties for 93 years will soon be replaced thanks to an N.C. Department of Transportation contract.
Zachry Construction Corporation, of San Antonio, Texas, earned a $78 million contract to earlier this year to replace the Sloan’s Ferry Bridge on U.S. 29/74 (Wilkinson Boulevard) over the Catawba River.
The original bridge, constructed in 1911, replaced the Sloan’s Ferry Service across the Catawba River. The Great Flood of 1916 destroyed that structure. Another bridge replaced it in 1920 until the current structure was built in 1933.
The project also includes widening the bridge from four to six lanes, with three lanes in either direction, converting the U.S. 29/74 and N.C. 7 (Catawba Street) intersection to a reduced conflict intersection, and constructing 10-foot multiuse paths on both sides of the bridge. Crews also will improve the N.C. 7 intersections with Hazeline Avenue and Moores Chapel Loop.
Contract crews began construction last month, clearing the area around the project site. The existing bridge will remain open throughout construction, though some nighttime lane closures on Wilkinson Boulevard will be necessary to safely finish construction. Daytime lane closures are expected from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on N.C. 7 and Hazeline Avenue.
The community dedicated the existing bridge as a memorial to those who served in World War I. The memorial plaque will be included in the design, along with aesthetic features and scenic overlooks.
The contract calls for construction to finish in late summer 2032.
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