Albemarle Road bridge project to begin early 2025

ASHEBORO — Replacement of the Albemarle Road bridge over US 64 Business west of I-73/74 is scheduled to begin in early 2025.

According to Cary Fine, resident engineer of the local district office of the NC Department of Transportation, the bridge replacement is part of project U-5813 that will widen US 64 Business from the western end of the Asheboro Bypass to just east of the interchange at NC 49. It will also modify the ramps at the interchange for I-73/74 and US 220.

Fine said in an email dated Oct. 17, “The Albemarle Road bridge will be built adjacent to and west of the existing structure, and traffic will be maintained in the current pattern while the bridge is being constructed (no detour). 

“Bridge construction will begin in early 2025 and likely will not be opened to traffic until late 2026/early 2027. This seems like a long duration to build a bridge structure but the bridge will likely be complete prior to these dates. However, traffic would not be shifted onto the structure until early 2027 due to the project phasing and roadway work required to realign Albemarle Road.”

Conti Civil of New Jersey was awarded the contract for the US 64 widening project with a bid of $59 million. Work was to begin in “approximately two weeks,” according to Fine, with the relocation of utilities such as water and sewer lines. 

A crane that will be used in the bridge construction is currently parked at a gas station near the site.

Asked about the massive undertaking of the NCDOT to replace bridges and roadways in western North Carolina after the destruction of Hurricane Helene, Fine said the work in the mountains has not yet had an impact on the local project. 

However, he expects that, at some point, the mountain construction projects could affect the availability of highway contractors and materials.