By David Purtell

david.purtell@salisburypost.com

Road construction across Rowan County is expected to close parts of three roads for more than a month.

The N.C. Department of Transportation has three projects currently underway that will last into July.

Monday, work started on the Andrews Street bridge over Town Creek near East Spencer. The road over the bridge will be closed in both directions while crews repair concrete slabs. Work is expected to last until July 20.

Drivers coming from Old Union Church Road can take Interstate 85 north to exit 81, Long Ferry Road, and then go west to Spencer and south down Salisbury Avenue to get around the construction. Drivers coming from Spencer who want to get to the Old Union Church Road side of the bridge can go up Salisbury Avenue to Long Ferry Road and then head east and take I-85 southbound to exit 79.

The eastbound lane on Statesville Boulevard is closed at the Second Creek Bridge, west of West Rowan Middle School, while crews repair a concrete slab. Work is expected to last until July 17. Signs saying the road is closed to thru traffic are at N.C. Hwy. 801, which is where the 8-mile detour starts.

Drivers can take N.C. Hwy. 801 south to Sherrills Ford Road, and then head east to Barringer Road and then North back to Statesville Boulevard.

The westbound lane of Statesville Boulevard will remain open during construction.

The Stokes Ferry Road bridge over High Rock Lake is expected to be closed until July 24 while maintenance work on beam ends and steel plank flooring is conducted. Work started last week.

Drivers heading south on Stokes Ferry Road can take Agner Road north to Bringle Ferry Road, cross the lake on Bringle Ferry Road and then use St. Matthews Road or Ribelin Road to get back to Stokes Ferry Road. Ribelin Road is off St. Matthews Church Road just before Bringle Ferry Road.

Contact Reporter David Purtell at 704-797-4264.