WINSTON-SALEM – N.C. Department of Transportation contractors will begin replacing the Mount Vernon Road bridge with a triple-box culvert, closing a portion of the road northwest of Salisbury.

The road will close at 8 a.m. Monday and will reopen when work finishes in mid-October, weather permitting.

The wooden bridge has weight restrictions posted at 10 tons for single vehicles and 13 tons for tractor-trailers.

“This new culvert will eliminate the load restrictions, last longer than the previous wooden bridge, and require fewer maintenance dollars from taxpayers,” said Matt Jones, DOT Division 9 bridge engineer.

The bridge was built in 1957.

Local traffic will be able to access homes and businesses from either end of the Mount Vernon Road bridge but will not be able to pass beyond the closure points on either side of the work. Motorists traveling through the area will use the posted detour route along Cool Springs Road and East Needmore Road.

The DOT encourages motorists to pay attention when approaching the work zone, obey the posted speed limit, and allow extra time to reach their destinations safely.

For real-time travel information, visit DriveNC.gov or follow NCDOT on Twitter.