New Bonner Bridge 65% Complete per NCDOT March Update

Despite recent weather-related challenges, work on the new Bonner Bridge continues to progress, with approximately 65% of the project completed, per the most recent update from the NCDOT.

Nearly a mile of the bridge’s northern approach has been completed, and crews at the northern end of the bridge project are closing the distance from the northern landing to the work underway at what will be the bridge’s northern incline. At this section, crews have poured the first three of 14 footings, and continue their pile driving efforts.

On the waters of the navigation zone, crews are rapidly constructing the supports and pier tables that will form the second half of the bridge’s navigation zone.

As work on and above the waters of the navigation zone progresses through May, mariners in the area can expect periodical closures of the marine navigation channel for a period lasting up to two hours, pending advanced notice from the U.S. Coast Guard and NCDOT.  An updated listing of these closures can be found at https://apps.ncdot.gov/newsreleases/details.aspx?r=14790

South of the navigation zone, crews are steadily installing the columns and caps that will support some of the bridge’s longest and heaviest collections of girders for the bridge’s southern incline.

Meanwhile, on land, all of the pilings and footings have been installed, with crews now focusing their efforts on the installation of the remaining columns and caps, before working to install the remaining land-based girders.

At the site of the new Captain Richard Etheridge Bridge on Pea Island, crews have completely removed the support structure of the former Lego Bridge, and have begun installing a protective rock barrier around the new bridge’s northern and southern approaches.

NCDOT urges motorists in these areas to stay alert and pay attention to construction signs and possible delays.

During the ongoing construction, drivers should continue to expect daytime lane closures Monday through Friday, and should allow for extra travel time accordingly.

In addition, occasional schedule nighttime closures lasting up to 30 minutes may occur to allow for delivery of construction materials to the site(s.) NCDOT will provide advanced notice of these road closures via various online and social media resources, including their Twitter and Facebook accounts, as well as via their website, https://www.ncdot.gov/traffictravel/.

Travelers can also visit https://www.ncdot.gov/nc12/ for continual updates on the progress of the new Bonner Bridge.