A much-anticipated bridge project in Burke County is expected to start this year.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation said right-of-way acquisition to replace Castle Bridge is in progress.
NCDOT plans to take bids for the contract to build the new bridge that connects Burke and Caldwell counties via Malcom Boulevard to Connelly Springs Road in July, said David Uchiyama, a spokesman for NCDOT.Â
Once the contract is awarded, the contractor will start within a month of award, unless there is a delayed availability date in the contract, Uchiyama said.
The bridge replacement is expected to cost $19 million and take three years to complete, according to NCDOT.Â
NCDOT had work done to the current Castle Bridge in 2019 to extend its life until a new parallel bridge can be built.
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The new bridge will be built just to the west of the existing bridge. There are no planned closings of the existing bridge that would result in detours, Uchiyama said.
Cars pass over Castle Bridge in Rutherford College. The North Carolina Department of Transportation plans to build a new bridge to replace the current one.
Hildebran Interstate 40 exit 118 improvementsÂ
Another bridge project in Burke County that was supposed to be contracted this year may be delayed.
The Interstate 40 exit 118 interchange improvement project was reworked in 2023 after residents in the area told NCDOT officials they wanted to see the westbound on-ramp remain connected to Curley’s Fish Camp Road.
NCDOT officials said in February that an updated traffic forecast is underway and design revisions are in process to reflect local desire to keep the south end of Curleys Fish Camp Road connected to interstate access, Uchiyama said.
A truck hauling a Bobcat excavator crosses the Interstate 40 Exit 118 bridge in Hildebran.
The transportation department’s original plan had the project scheduled to be opened for bids in December. However, that schedule will be updated soon to reflect additional time needed for design revisions, Uchiyama said. Â
The project plans originally called for roundabouts at each end of the exit 118 bridge over I-40. Curley’s Fish Camp Road was planned to connect to a roundabout on the north end of the bridge, but now is expected to connect with the east bound on-ramp.
On the other end of the bridge, Dowell Street is planned to connect to the roundabout on the south side of the bridge and Martin Fish Pond Street will not connect to Old N.C. Highway 10. A new road that would connect Martin Fish Pond Street to Dowell Street is proposed.
A street sign marking the start of Curleys Fish Camp Road in Hildebran. The North Carolina Department of Transportation plans to leave the road connected to the entrance ramp as it adds roundabouts at Interstate 40 Exit 118.
The project is expected to take five homes and the Shell and Marathon gas stations along Old N.C. Highway 10, according to NCDOT.
Other I-40 exit improvements delayed
NCDOT’s draft 2026-2035 State Transportation Improvement Program, which sets when projects will be funded and started, doesn’t include money for other I-40 interchange construction work in Burke County.
The interchange improvements that are delayed are:
Exit 103 - Currently funded for preliminary engineering only. The project is not funded in the draft 2026-2035 STIP and it may be subject to re-prioritization.
Exit 107 - Currently funded for preliminary engineering only. The project is not funded in the draft STIP and may be subject to re-prioritization.
Exit 111 - Currently funded for preliminary engineering only. The project is not funded in the draft STIP and may be subject to re-prioritization.
Exit 112 - Currently unfunded and may be subject to re-prioritization.
The US 64/Burkemont Avenue and U.S. Highway 70/Fleming Drive intersection improvements are not funded in the draft STIP.
A public comment period for the draft STIP for 2026-2035 is now open. People can  through April 4.
