Effective immediately, repairs to Aiken Bridge will require lane closures that will restrict traffic on Central Boulevard to one lane of travel both northbound and southbound over the next three to four months.
Today, the contractor closed the northbound inside or passing lane from Memorial Drive to Riverside Drive. On Thursday, the contractor will close the southbound inside lane from Piedmont Drive to Memorial Drive.
Both inside lanes will be closed until early June. The contractor, which is Haymes Brothers Inc. of Chatham, then will close the outside lanes to compete the bridge repairs.
The lane closures will be in effect 24/7. Motorists are urged to slow down and be alert to altered traffic patterns or consider an alternate route
The bridge, which was built in 1970 to carry traffic over the Dan River, was scheduled for major rehabilitation. Major bridge repairs generally are due every 20 years. For the Aiken Bridge, the repairs include patching of the deck, replacing expansion joints and applying epoxy sealer to fill cracks.
Last year, the city carried out major repairs to the Central Boulevard bridge over Riverside Drive. Next summer, the city has scheduled major repairs for the bridge over Sandy Creek.
The city maintains 41 bridges. Each bridge is inspected every two years either by a staff engineer or by a private contractor.
In addition to Central Boulevard, lane closures are in effect this week for continued installation of a storm drainpipe on Riverside Drive and street resurfacing on Arnett Boulevard:
• Installation of a storm drainpipe will continue on Riverside Drive from Neal Court to Piney Forest Road. Alternating lanes will be closed daily from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.
• Street resurfacing is scheduled on Arnett Boulevard from Riverside Drive to Hampton Drive. Alternating lanes will be closed daily from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.