Morganton drivers will be heading into 2026 on the tail end of one of the city’s largest road projects in recent years. The new bridge connecting West Fleming Drive near Morganton Heights Shopping Center is expected to open this weekend.
The new bridge is taller and will be able to more easily accommodate potential growth in the rail industry, built with more modern standards, according to the North Carolina Department of Transportation. At 262 feet long, the new bridge features 12-foot-wide travel lanes and a 10-foot multi-use path on the south side.
According to NCDOT, the $23 million contract is expected to finish eight to 12 months ahead of schedule and within budget. Construction by Mountain Creek Contractors Inc. out of Mt. Pleasant, S.C., started in July 2023, and originally was expected to take five years with a January 2028 completion.
However, NCDOT accelerated construction for a new completion date of March 29, 2027. With nearly 75% of the project completed, remaining construction includes signal additions, sidewalks, and roadway improvements, according to NCDOT.
Traffic shifted in late January, taking drivers across a temporary bridge where Fleming Drive crosses the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks on the southwest side of Morganton. The two-lane road was also reduced to one in each direction as drivers approached the temporary detour.
To track updates on the project, you can visit the NCDOT’s progress report site and enter “District 13” and “Burke” to see details and construction progress.
Madison Lipe is the municipal reporter for The Paper. She can be reached at 828-445-8595 or madison@thepaper.media.
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