News

Contractor to begin three-year project to upgrade Green River bridge

A contractor will make major improvements to the I-26 bridge over the Green River in a three-year $27 million contract. [IMAGE FROM NCDOT VIDEO]

By Lightning Reports, Published: October 8, 2021

SALUDA – One of the tallest crossings in North Carolina is undergoing a significant rehabilitation over the next three years.

A contractor for the N.C. Department of Transportation is set to begin an early phase of the major project to widen and replace the decks of the two bridges on Interstate 26 over the Green River in Henderson County.

“The Green River bridges are significant structures that are critical to transportation on I-26 between Asheville and Spartanburg,” Division 14 Construction Engineer Mitchell Bishop said. “We are taking this opportunity to perform preventative maintenance on the existing structure and also widen it to accommodate future traffic.”

The process includes building new lanes between the two bridges, removing old concrete and building a new deck in one direction, then repeating the process in the other direction.

Click here to watch a one-and-a-half-minute animated video on the project.

Two lanes of traffic in both directions will remain open for a majority of the construction schedule, and at least one lane of traffic will remain open in both directions at all times. Starting Monday, Oct. 11, one lane will be closed until 7 a.m. Thursday, so crews may safely widen shoulders in both directions.

Flatiron Constructors of Morrisville earned the $26.9 million contract to improve grading on the approaches, replace the existing decks, and widen both bridges at this location to accommodate three lanes in future years. The contract calls for completion by Dec. 12, 2024.

Drivers are urged to merge early, remain alert and obey all posted signs in the construction area. For real-time travel information, visit DriveNC.gov or follow NCDOT on social media.