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DURHAM, N.C. – The long-awaited demolition and replacement of the pedestrian bridge at Alston Avenue will begin later this month and motorists are asked to take note of planned overnight traffic detours on NC 147.

Beginning May 26 and lasting approximately two weeks, the City’s contractor, S.T. Wooten Corporation, will begin their first road closure of NC 147.  Traffic will be rerouted using Briggs and Alston Avenues as detours from 11 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. as crews complete the demolition of the old pedestrian bridge structure. 

After demolition is complete and the new bridge span arrives, crews will again close NC 147 during these same hours and using these same detour routes for the duration of setting the new bridge span into place.  An announcement regarding the second closure will be provided to the public once this date is set.

According to Katie Kalb, director of the City’s Department of Public Works, the bridge replacement is necessary to link residential and commercial areas divided by NC 147 and to also link those areas to the future Alston Avenue Triangle Transit Rail Station as well as any future trail system.  “The enclosed design of the original bridge provided poor visibility for users and police officers, leading to its closure in 1995.  Plus, the bridge had deteriorated due to its age,” Kalb said.  “Thanks to the NCDOT providing most of the funding with money remaining from the original NC 147 Durham Freeway Project, we have been able to keep pushing this forward, in spite of repeated funding shortfalls and delays.  It’s taken six years to get to this point, but we know this project is important to our citizens and to the future economic prosperity of these neighborhoods – and frankly, the community as a whole.”

The project will cost $2.2 million and should be completed within 300 calendar days once construction is underway.  Eighty percent of the funding for this project is from the North Carolina Department of Transportation with the City picking up the additional 20 percent, which was approved in the 2008-2009 budget.

To learn more about this project or to view images of the new pedestrian bridge that will serve as a gateway to downtown, visit the City’s Web site at www.durhamnc.gov/departments/works/project_nc147_bike_ped_bridge.cfm or contact Byron Brady, senior contract engineer with the City’s Department of Public Works, at (919) 560-4326, extension 296 or via e-mail at Byron.Brady@durhamnc.gov.