Dare County, N.C. (WTKR) - Traffic crossing the Currituck Sound on U.S. 158 will once again be reduced to one lane in each direction starting Monday and will remain that way through May 2015.
The westbound span of the bridge will close at the Currituck and Dare County line so that crews can finish a resurfacing project that began in September 2013.
During the project, traffic will shift to the eastbound bridge which will have a two-lane, two-way traffic pattern.
The resurfacing project involves replacing the top portion of the existing concrete with a layer of latex-modified concrete and replacing expansion joints which allow the bridge to expand and contract with the weather.
That should smooth out the humps in each span and extend the life of the bridge, according to North Carolina's Department of Transportation.
Under the contract, work must be complete and the bridge reopened by May 15, 2015.
The latex-modified concrete can only be put down when the air temperatures are between 50 and 85 degrees, surface temperatures are between 40 and 85 degrees and wind speeds are less than 10 miles per hour.
A brutal winter this past year hindered crews, but they were still able to complete deck work on two-thirds of the project before the bridge reopened in May.
NCDOT says that if a hurricane or other severe storm hits and an evacuation is necessary while the bridge is closed, they will work with local emergency management officials on alternate routes including U.S. 64 and the eastbound span of the Wright Memorial Bridge.
Related:
Westbound Wright Memorial Bridge opens
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