NORTH CAROLINA — A major bridge replacement project will close a section of Wendell Road in northern Johnston County for several months, beginning Monday, September 8.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation has announced that the Wendell Road bridge spanning Buffalo Creek, located north of Archer Lodge, will be completely closed to traffic while contractors demolish and rebuild the aging structure.

The current bridge, which was completed in 1940, has reached the end of its operational lifespan and no longer meets modern traffic requirements, according to NCDOT officials. After more than eight decades of service, the infrastructure has been deemed functionally obsolete for current transportation needs.

The reconstruction project is expected to continue through the winter months, with the road anticipated to reopen to traffic in May 2025. During the extended closure, motorists will be required to use an official detour route that directs traffic onto Wall Road and Lake Wendell Road to circumvent the construction zone.

Transportation officials are advising drivers to plan for additional travel time when navigating the detour route and to exercise heightened caution when traveling near the active construction site.

The bridge replacement represents part of ongoing infrastructure improvements throughout Johnston County as aging transportation systems are upgraded to accommodate modern traffic patterns and safety standards.

Residents and commuters who regularly use Wendell Road should prepare for the extended disruption and consider alternative routes for their daily travel needs during the construction period.