RALEIGH — The N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT) will be closing the Watkins Road bridge over Powell Creek in northeast Raleigh starting Monday, April 16 for a bridge replacement project. Earlier this year, the NCDOT awarded an $802,370 contract to Dane Construction Inc. of Mooresville for the project.

The current bridge was built in 1951 and is considered functionally obsolete and structurally deficient. That means it was built to lane width and other standards no longer used for bridges, and although it is safe, the bridge has been requiring maintenance and repair and eventually needed to be replaced.

The new bridge at that location is expected to be completed by Sept. 12.

A detour will be in place during the project. Traffic going from Old Milburnie Road to Mitchell Mill Road can take Watkins Town Road, then Old Watkins Road and Forestville Road. Motorists going from Mitchell Mill Road to Old Milburnie Road can take Forestville Road, then Old Watkins Road and Watkins Town Road. Detour signs will be posted in both directions. A map showing the detour route is below.

NCDOT reminds motorists to watch signs for construction information, stay alert and obey the posted speed limit. Updated travel information is also available by calling 511 or online at www.ncdot.gov/travel. In addition, NCDOT now offers travel information on Twitter.

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