The bridge that connects countless Fayetteville commuters each day, Skibo Road Bridge, is slated for maintenance work that will require patience and caution from local drivers. According to a release from the N.C. Department of Transportation, the project will kick off this week with work being conducted underneath the structure; this initial phase is set to disrupt the All American Freeway with nighttime lane closures between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m., potentially starting as early as tonight and will continue into August.
Navigating these obstructions, commuters using the All American Freeway should expect several closures weekly as the contractors work tirelessly below; however, with a hefty load of nearly 40,000 vehicles passing over the Skibo Road Bridge daily, lane closures on the bridge itself will be off-limits from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., aiming to mitigate the impact on daytime traffic yet when night falls, up to two side-by-side lanes may be closed for maintenance. The bridge, a vital artery since 1976 and later expanded in 1999, ensures the steady flow of the U.S. 401 Bypass.
The scope of the refurbishment includes the application of an epoxy resin overlay to the driving deck—a measure that acts as a sealant to extend the concrete's durability. The existing surface will be stripped back before the sealant is applied, with additional repairs targeting any compromised areas on the deck; moreover, grooves will be carved into the surface to improve water runoff and enhance safety conditions in adverse weather.
With the refurbishment extending to the structure's underbelly, the steel girders will be rejuvenated with new paint, while bearings and pads critical to their support are set to be replaced; the efforts of the Virginia-based Freyssinet Inc., the contractor commissioned with the project for nearly $3.9 million, are anticipated to reach completion by fall.
