Final Touches Being Made to Bonner Bridge Replacement Project …WITH VIDEO

As various construction operations come to a close, and unneeded equipment is demobilized from the Bonner Bridge replacement project, crews are still hard at work on the final touches that will make the bridge safe for travel and ready for its opening to traffic in early 2019.

With its final deck board and the two expansion joints that connect the navigation zone to the bridge’s north and south approaches installed, crews working on the bridge will now have access to all areas of the 2.8 mile bridge from either end of the inlet.

On the top side of the bridge, crews have begun the process of grinding the bridge’s deck surface into what will be its final roadway, as work to complete installation of barrier railings continues below the bridge deck.

Electric crews are hard at work installing the power lines that will replace the older bridge’s transmission lines. At the North End, crews have completed work on drainage improvements to the area in preparation for the paving expected in the next month that will connect the new bridge to N.C. Highway 12.

NCDOT urges motorists in the area to stay alert, obey posted speed limits, watch signs for construction information and lane closures, and to remember that the site is an active construction zone and should not be entered.

Those traveling the Bonner Bridge should expect daytime lane closures of N.C. Highway 12 on Monday through Friday. One lane will remain open during these lane closures, however, motorists should allow for extra travel time.

Mariners in the area of Oregon Inlet should also maintain caution, and keep clear of buoys, anchor lines, and barges working on the water. Updates and notifications of any maritime delays can be found via the U.S. Coast Guard’s local notice to mariners, broadcast notice to mariners, and marine safety information bulletins.

Visit https://www.ncdot.gov/ for more information regarding the Bonner Bridge replacement project, as well as updates on the area’s traffic and travel information