Wake Forest residents should prepare for a detour on their daily commutes as bridge construction leads to the closure of a key section of Ligon Mill Road. Citing a report from the Town of Wake Forest's official website, the road is shut down from Woodrose Lane to Burlington Mills Road due to work by an NCDOT contractor tasked with realigning the road to connect with a newly constructed bridge over Smith Creek.
A detour has been signposted to reroute traffic via South Main Street/US 1A, Capital Boulevard/US 1, and Burlington Mills Road. The current expectation is that Ligon Mill Road will welcome back vehicles in April, weather permitting. The urgency of this infrastructure update is underscored by the fact that the original bridge, which dates back to 1967, has succumbed to deterioration, and its lack of capacity to handle contemporary traffic flow rendered it functionally obsolete.
The project, which kicked off in January 2023, encompasses the construction of a 200-foot long, 58-foot-wide bridge that boasts a 47-foot wide roadway. It features three 11-foot lanes, a center turn lane, and dedicated 5-foot bike lanes on both the northbound and southbound sides according to the Town of Wake Forest's announcement. Pedestrian accommodations have also been upgraded with new sidewalks to ensure safe passage for those on foot.
In addition to improved transportation infrastructure, the project is designed to pave the way for future enhancements to local amenities. In particular, the new bridge's elevated roadway, which stands six feet higher than its predecessor, accommodates plans for a greenway that will offer residents recreational opportunities underneath the bridge.
