LUMBERTON — The Carthage Road bridge that hangs over Interstate 95 at exit 19 will reopen briefly this weekend, then close again, according to the North Carolina Department of Transportation.
The repairs to the joints of the bridge will not be completed by the weekend, but steel plates will be placed over the uncompleted sections to allow motorists easy access to hotels and restaurants along the interstate.
“We know it’s a big weekend for the businesses on the service roads with the Darlington race this weekend,” said Chuck Miller, district engineer for the NCDOT.
The routine maintenance began as an overnight job on May 3, but was continued when further repairs to the joints of the bridge spans were determined to be necessary.
“We were hoping to be through by Friday, but with the rain, it didn’t look like the work would be finished,” Miller said. “We’re going to be working on it possibly two days next week.”
The closure of the 226-foot-long bridge blocks the exit 19 access point to I-95, and forces motorists on that highway to find another road to East Lumberton and downtown Lumberton. The Transportation Department has recommended that motorists use the services roads, Capuano Road on the east side of the highway, and Lackey Street to the west, to reach N.C. 211 at exit 20. I-95 travelers can also take exit 20 to access the service roads that reach Carthage Road.
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