NEWS RELEASE

April 22, 2002

CARY, NC – Town crews will be working this afternoon to create new traffic patterns on the Glasgow Road bridge and the Queensferry Road bridge in MacGregor Downs in Cary. Both bridges will be limited to one lane. Eastbound Queensferry Road traffic will be able to cross the bridge, while westbound traffic will be detoured around it. The Glasgow Road bridge will also be restricted to one lane with traffic being required to alternate directions.

Every two years, NC Department of Transportation inspects all bridges including about three dozen in the Town of Cary. Problems with the bridges were identified when this routine inspection revealed unexpected deterioration since the previous inspection. After the Glasgow Road bridge was closed, NCDOT contacted the Town to request that the Queensferry Bridge also be closed. Further inspections by independent engineers have revealed that the damage is confined to one side of each bridge, making it possible to safely utilize one lane.

"Ensuring the safety of our citizens is the most important consideration in this decision, " said Mike Bajorek, Public Works Director. "While we regret the inconvenience that some people may temporarily face, public safety is paramount."

Design is under way for a repair to the failed channels and will be installed in three to four weeks. Steel beams will be installed to shore up the weakened channels. At that time, the bridges will be opened to normal two-way traffic. Periodic inspections will be scheduled to ensure that no further deterioration takes place prior to the bridges being completely replaced.

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