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BENSON – As work progresses on widening Interstate 95 and modernizing its Exit 79 in Benson, a contractor plans to temporarily close the N.C. 50 bridge next week, The I-95 southbound off-ramp was closed to allow crews to realign it at East Main Street/N.C. 50. The rebuilt ramp reopened on schedule Thursday morning. The N.C. 50 bridge spanning I-95 is scheduled to close starting May 28. While the bridge is closed, interstate traffic can keep using Exit 79, but will have to turn away from the bridge. The closure is needed to expeditiously and safely do rehabilitation work to the 24-year-old bridge, as well as construct the roundabout where the northbound on- and off-ramps converge with N.C. 242. The rehabilitation work will include installing new outer rails, widening the sidewalks on both sides and improving the concrete driving deck. The upgraded bridge and roundabout are scheduled to open to traffic by July 12, weather permitting. Signed detours for truck traffic will vary depending on direction of travel on I‑95 or N.C. 50, but will include U.S. 301, Jonesboro Road and Exit 77 (Hodges Chapel Road). The attachment has the details. To better guide travelers and improve traffic flow during the closure, NCDOT will fabricate and install wayfinding signs along the detour routes to help direct drivers to such businesses as hotels and restaurants around Exit 79. These wayfinding signs will be in place when the bridge closes.
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May 21 Update: Contracts crews this week began doing some of the rehabilitation work, such as removing the barrier rails and sidewalk, on the N.C. 50 bridge while the outside lanes have remained closed to get a jump-start on the major work described below that will begin when the bridge fully closes starting May 28. The southbound off-ramp reopened today. Below is a revised release initially sent May 13.
***NCDOT***
