Wake Forest bridge closure will create traffic delays
A construction project is expected to create huge delays and plenty of headaches. The DOT is replacing and widening the Rogers Road Bridge in Wake Forest.
It is the fourth bridge-replacement project for the town.
A detour will go into effect Monday. Drivers will have to go on South Main Street, turn on 98, and then roll through part of the Heritage subdivision.
Everyone from businesses to parents and folks who live there are dreading the traffic tie-ups.
"It'll be very painful on traffic for sure," said resident Nick Casey. "It's going to be kind of a nuisance."
"I can't even imagine with all the people having to do the same thing. I could see us sitting there for hours," said resident Georgeanne Galoski.
The bridge is near Heritage elementary and middle schools, which are both year-round and located on Rogers Road.
The Wake County School District has adjusted bus routes because of the detour and is asking parents to have their children out at bus stops 15 minutes early Monday morning.
"Bus drivers are going to be used to the new routing, but they're going to be driving through traffic that's trying to learn it," said WCPSS spokesperson Bill Poston. "So it's going to take a little bit more time and we want to give them more time so we can get students to school when they need to be there."
The district believes it will see the biggest impact in August when Wake Forest Middle reopens. That school's on a traditional calendar.
WCPSS is going to take the summer to figure out the best bus routes to get around construction.
"It'll be nice once it's done," Galoski said. "It really is bottleneck there, especially when school is getting out so it'll be an improvement, but growth pains hurt."
The work is supposed to take several months. The new bridge should be finished by late October.
