By Lorrie Ross
Staff Writer
Since early last year, complaints have been posted on local social media pages about the inconvenience of the Myers Chapel Road detour. Yet the work being done on the century-old bridge will not be done for several more months.
That means those large orange detour signs posted along Highway 69 and Highway 64 near the intersections of Myers Chapel Road are destined to remain until at least early October.
According to Adam Dockery, Resident Engineer for North Carolina Department of Transportation, District 3, Division 14, the project began on March 24, 2025 and is on schedule. The Myers Chapel Road project should be ready for all traffic by its projected completion date of Oct. 2.
Built in 1921, the Myers Chapel Road bridge is being replaced. “The bridge needed replacement because of deterioration and the high cost of maintenance,” Dockery explained, saying there were not yet safety issues. “It never was considered unsafe.”
Dockery said federal dollars are being used for the project which is meeting its budget of two and half million dollars. He said there is no other work planned for Myers Chapel Road at this time
Ikeco Construction, Inc. is the contractor doing the work for the bridge on Myers Chapel Road, which is also SR 1140. That information is from NCDOT online, which describes the project as Bridge No. 63 over Blair Creek, and Bridge No. 88 over Hyatt Mill Creek on SR 1140, Myers Chapel Road.
Dockery ended by saying, “We apologize for the inconvenience. We urge motorists to obey traffic laws, posted speed limits and construction signs while traveling along Myers Chapel Road.”
Information about all North Carolina state road projects may be found at: NCDOT.gov and search projects by county.