Businesses, commuters adjust for two-year Fort Bragg main gate closure
FORT BRAGG, N.C. (WTVD) -- The main gate to Fort Bragg, known as the All-American Gate, is scheduled to shut down for repairs in mid-July, launching a $15.5 million infrastructure project expected to last two years.
The long-awaited repairs, funded by Fort Bragg and managed by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), will force thousands of soldiers, families, and workers to find alternate routes and could bring new challenges and opportunities to businesses along those roads.
For Stephen Turner, owner of 100 Grand Barbershop 2 on Yadkin Road, the closure could mean a significant change in daily operations and customer flow.
"With more visibility and more business. That means I can hire more veterans and maybe open up more businesses," Turner said.
Turner, a veteran himself, opened his Fayetteville barbershop in 2019. He said supporting veterans has always been central to his business model.
"This barbershop was established in 2019. I'm a veteran, and I wanted to give veterans opportunities that were barbers to be able to come out. The military didn't have employment," Turner said.
Each day, an estimated 65,000 to 80,000 vehicles enter Fort Bragg. With the main gate closed, traffic will be rerouted through six other gates, including Rock Merritt Avenue, Yadkin Road, Honeycutt Road, Canopy Lane, R. Miller Street, and Butner Road.
"We have to adjust our schedule. I mean, but, you know, just like being in the military, we have to improvise, adapt, and overcome," Turner said.
NCDOT Public Relations Officer Andrew Barksdale acknowledged the inconvenience, but said the improvements are necessary.
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"This closure will be inconvenient for a while, but people will have to adjust and find new routes to their commute," Barksdale said.
The Gruber Road bridge, which dates to the 1970s, will be a focus of the upgrades. Officials say the new structure will accommodate heavy military equipment that the bridge can no longer support.
"Because of its age, heavy, heavy military equipment, which you have on Fort Bragg, including tanks that are being hauled on trailers, heavy military equipment is not using that bridge anymore. But the new bridge, those kind of restrictions will be removed," Barksdale explained.
Fort Bragg official Jen Fayson said in a statement to ABC11: "Maintaining safe, reliable infrastructure is essential to the readiness of our force and the well-being of our community. The repairs to the All-American Freeway and the replacement of the Gruber Road Bridge are necessary investments that ensure Fort Bragg can continue to support its mission. We appreciate the patience of our Soldiers, families, and neighbors as we partner with NCDOT to complete this critical work."
Turner said he believes the investment in infrastructure will pay off for both soldiers and local businesses.
"If we invest back into the infrastructure and make it better for soldiers, soldiers' morale is up. And when soldiers' morale is up, soldiers like to spend money," he said.
Officials encourage drivers to familiarize themselves with the new routes before the closure takes effect.
