The closure is forcing thousands of drivers to find alternative routes to work, rerouting daily traffic through other gates and impacting local businesses along the detour.
Detours
Traffic will now be diverted to six other gates, including Rock Merritt Avenue, Honeycutt Road, Butner Road, Canopy Lane, R. Miller Street, and Yadkin Road.
Officials urge drivers to plan for longer commutes and heavier congestion at these alternate entrances.
Businesses Impact
For Dawn Kelly, owner of Kelly's Florist on Yadkin Road, the increase in traffic brings hope amidst a challenging year.
"We do a lot of stuff for the events on, on base. You know, it's an honor to do the wreaths and stuff for Memorial Day," Kelly said.
Opening her shop near one of Fort Bragg's gates was a personal decision, inspired by her father, Sgt. Major James Fickling, who served in the military for 33 years and later led the Special Forces Association.
With roughly 95% of her clientele connected to the military, Kelly has seen business drop by 35% due to the war in Iran. "I usually like I have a designer and my two sons work with me. My designer is here full time and we've had to cut her a little bit," she explained.
Decades-old infrastructure project
The $15.5 million repair project comes after years of problems with the 50-year-old bridge and freeway.
North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) officials say the freeway was built over an old landfill and has gradually settled over time.
The construction is a joint effort between Fort Bragg and the NC-DOT.
With much of the 65,000 to 80,000 vehicles that enter Fort Bragg each day now passing through Yadkin Road, Kelly is hopeful for a boost in foot traffic.
Businesses brace for change
Stephen Jackson, manager at 100 Grand Barbershop 2 on Yadkin Road, noticed an immediate uptick.
"It was more than usual. I drive all the way from Raeford, so it was definitely more than usual," Jackson said. "We had about two or three walk-ins. Normally it's slower than that on a Monday, but I've noticed a drastic difference in the traffic flow."
While officials acknowledge the closure is an inconvenience, they stress the repairs are necessary to maintain the safety and reliability of Fort Bragg's infrastructure.
Download the ABC11 App for breaking news and weather alerts