A contractor for the N.C. Department of Transportation will close a short portion of Shulls Mill Road near Hounds Ear Club today in order to replace a bridge over Lance Creek in Watauga County.
Construction company James R. Vannoy and Sons will be replacing the bridge at a cost of $717,000 and will have Shulls Mill Road closed until Jan. 15.
Motorists are urged to use Old Turnpike Road, a 2.8-mile loop that connects to Shulls Mill on both ends, as a detour around the 54-year old bridge, which bisects the golf course.
The safety and repair of aging bridges is a key component of Governor Pat McCrory’s 25-year Vision for transportation in North Carolina. The 2016-17 budget signed by the Governor increases repair and replacement funding for bridges by 58 percent, totaling $242 million. For real-time travel information, visit the Traveler Services section of NCDOT.gov or follow NCDOT on Twitter.