WS Chronicle

Staff Report

The Winston-Salem Chronicle

Winston-Salem, NC — After years of planning, the long-anticipated replacement of the Old Greensboro Road bridge over Brushy Fork Creek is moving forward, marking meaningful progress on a critical infrastructure improvement that residents and local officials have been urging for years.

The City of Winston-Salem recently issued a formal request for consulting firms to design the new bridge structure, signaling the transition from planning to actionable project development. The bid solicitation for professional engineering services is open through February 5, 2026 as the city solicits proposals for design work on the structurally-deficient span. 

City documents indicate the existing bridge, located just 0.1 miles from the intersection of Old Greensboro Road and East 5th Street, was inspected in 2024 and determined to be at the end of its service life, with significant cracking, corrosion, and weight restrictions that limit heavy vehicle travel. 

“We’re closer than ever to replacing a bridge that our community has long needed,” said a city transportation official. “This step moves us into design, which brings us one phase closer to construction and, ultimately, a safer corridor for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians.”

According to project details, the new design will feature two 12-foot travel lanes, dedicated five-foot bicycle lanes with protective buffers, and six-foot sidewalks with curbing — improvements that represent a meaningful safety upgrade for all transportation users. 

Federal and state funds supporting progress

The replacement effort is federally backed and coordinated with the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) as part of the state transportation improvement program. 

City Council took a key step in April 2025 by approving a resolution to authorize the agreement with NCDOT and amend the city’s budget to allocate $4.8 million toward the bridge replacement, underscoring political and financial support for the long-delayed project. 

Next steps toward construction

Officials overseeing the process expect a firm to be selected for design services in March 2026, with a Notice to Proceed likely by late April 2026. The anticipated design contract will run roughly nine months from the notice, a timeline that sets the stage for final engineering and subsequent construction phases. 

Once design work is complete and final approvals are secured, the replacement bridge can move into the construction phase — a transition celebrated by neighbors and commuters who have long dealt with the aging structure.

Why it matters to residents

The bridge serves as a key connector in the East Winston area, impacting daily commutes for local drivers, school buses, and commercial traffic. With its current weight restrictions and deteriorating condition, the structure has posed safety concerns and limited access for larger vehicles. The planned upgrades, including bicycle and pedestrian accommodations, reflect a commitment to multimodal infrastructure that can support broader community needs.

As Winston-Salem continues to grow and invest in its transportation network, the Old Greensboro Road bridge replacement stands out as a tangible sign of progress — one that will enhance safety, mobility, and economic opportunity for residents across the city.