Beginning May 27, N.C. Department of Transportation contract crews will implement closures on U.S. 29 in both directions to safely remove sections of the 71-year-old bridge taking Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue over U.S. 29 in Kannapolis. Contractor NJR Group, Inc. of Albemarle earned the $5.7 million project earlier this year.

Southbound U.S. 29 will be closed nightly between May 27-30 while crews remove railing, decking and girders. The northbound lanes will be closed each night June 2-5 to continue removing the existing structure. Closures will be in place from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Detours will be posted for each closure as follows:

U.S. 29 South: Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, N. Ridge Avenue, East Avenue and Jackson Park Road

U.S. 29 North: Dale Earnhardt Boulevard, S. Little Texas Road and Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue

The new bridge will feature two 16-foot travel lanes, and the road approaching the bridge will be widened in both directions. In addition, sidewalk will be built on both sides of U.S. 29 within the project limits. The ramps to and from Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue and U.S. 29 will stay in place when the project is complete.

The contract calls for the new bridge to be opened to traffic in the fall of 2026.