Rodanthe Bridge expected to open this week

Published 6:57 am Monday, May 30, 2022

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The newly-constructed Rodanthe Bridge. Hannah Russ photo

Temporary dams and baffles are set up on each expansion joint and filled with water to do water tests and be sure the joints are watertight. There are 25 expansion joints on the bridge. Hannah Russ photo

Expansion joint 83 that was recently replaced. This damaged joint was cited as the main reason for the delay in the bridge opening. Hannah Russ photo

“TELE” is painted on the bridge to show where the utility splice box is located for the telephone cables. Hannah Russ photo

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The new Rodanthe Bridge is expected to open this week, sometime after Memorial Day.

There are a few items that need to be completed before the final opening, one of them being the painting of the lines on the bridge. Flatiron has contracted TMI for this project and they are on schedule to paint the lines this week as long as the weather cooperates. The team on the bridge will need to do some prep work beforehand, such as removing all equipment from the bridge and power washing the bridge where the lines will be painted to give a clean, dry surface to pain the lines.

It was reported that TMI should be able to complete the painting of the lines in just a day or so.

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The recent nor’easter did shut down the bridge construction for three-and-a-half days when Highway 12 was closed. A damaged expansion joint needed to be replaced and was the main reason for the delay of the bridge opening. The joint was delivered to the bridge after Highway 12 was reopened and was installed that weekend.

No lane closures are anticipated for when the bridge actually opens, but road closures are anticipated later as Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative continues with their work. There are seven cables running underneath the bridge: four electric cables, two telecommunication cables and one ground cable.

The bridge will have a passing zone a little over a mile. The speed limit on the bridge will be 55 and then will step down to 45 and then 35 as approach the roundabout.

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