N.C. DOT bridge replacement to close Hwy 29 near campus entrance

The N.C. Department of Transportation plans to replace the Mallard Creek bridges on U.S. Hwy 29/N.Tryon Street, which will affect traffic around the UNC Charlotte campus for the duration of the approximate 15-month project.

According to the latest information, construction will begin on Wednesday, Oct. 15, weather permitting. The first phase will close the southbound lanes of N. Tryon Street (U.S. Hwy 29) for around seven months (through May 2015). During this time, motorists will be detoured along Mallard Creek Church Road, I-85 and Harris Boulevard.

Once the southbound bridge opens, the northbound lanes will be closed to replace that bridge. However, the new southbound bridge will be wide enough to handle both northbound and southbound traffic.

Devere Construction Inc. was awarded a $4.4 million contract to replace the bridges in April, according to the N.C. DOT website.

The project is concurrent with construction activities for the Charlotte’s Blue Line Extension project; while the northbound bridge is being replaced, work will begin to install a culvert for the light rail where it enters the UNC Charlotte campus (just south of the veterinarian hospital).

For real-time travel information, call 511, visit the N.C. DOT traffic website or follow N.C. DOT on Twitter. Another option is N.C. DOT Mobile, a phone-friendly version of the NCDOT website. To access it, type “m.ncdot.gov” into a smartphone browser.