The new alignment and bridge for Strickland Bridge Road reopened on Saturday, May 31 as part of an altered traffic pattern.

A contractor for the N.C. Department of Transportation opened the bridge, and made other final preparations on Saturday that will affect this road and two others connecting to it.

The bridge is part of an interchange with Interstate-295, also known as the Fayetteville Outer Loop. While the highway going underneath the bridge remains under construction, traffic will be able to travel back and forth on the bridge now it has opened.

The bridge’s opening allows the contractor to also permanently close a section of Century Circle that will be formed into a dead end adjacent to the new Strickland Bridge Road exit for I-295. In addition, a new intersection with Strickland Bridge, Stoney Point and Barefoot roads opened Saturday under a traffic signal.

Any additional work needed will be  completed by the contractor on Monday.

Commuter patterns affected

As a result of these changes, people in western Fayetteville accustomed to traveling directly to Century Circle via Strickland Bridge Road to reach two public schools and a county library will need to use the new Strickland Bridge Road overpass; then turn right at Stoney Point Road at the new intersection; then right again onto Century Circle.

People should be mindful of the longer commute using the new route, and slow down and be cautious near this work zone.

NCDOT awarded a $151.8 million construction contract in 2022 to complete this final, 5-mile segment of the outer loop between Camden and Raeford roads. The Strickland Bridge Road interchange is a part of this final segment, which is on schedule to be completed and opened by the summer of 2026.