I-40 near Statesville reopened following weekend bridge repairs

STATESVILLE, N.C. — A large portion of Interstate 40 near Statesville that was closed for days while road crews made emergency repairs to a bridge over the interstate has reopened.

A photo posted on Twitter by Iredell Firewire showed the apparent damage to the Beulah Road Bridge on I-40 just west of Statesville. The photo showed a chunk of the actual roadway on the bridge had fallen.

The Department of Transportation said the westbound lanes were closed at Exit 144 starting Friday and were expected to remain so until noon on Monday while crews made repairs.

By 5 a.m. on Monday, bridge repairs were done and all lanes of I-40 were reopened.

“It’s hard, you know. The way they have these roads messed up and stuff, it’s pretty aggravating,” driver Glenda Crum said on Sunday.

Crews spent the weekend patching the hole. The Highway Patrol said they would be testing the patch on Monday morning.

Officials had said the worst-case scenario would see the interstate reopen by Tuesday afternoon.

“Have to go out of the way for everything. Usually takes me five minutes to get here and it’s taking me about 20,” driver Kyle Hughes said.

As a detour, drivers had to take Exit 144 and turn left onto Old Mountain Road, continue for a mile and then turn right onto US-70 West. Then take that highway for four miles before turning right onto Sharon School Road and take that road for almost two miles before reaching the on-ramp to get back on I-40 westbound.

Officials have not said if any vehicles were damaged by possible falling debris from the bridge onto the interstate.

Check back with wsoctv.com for updates on this story.

(WATCH BELOW: Bridge repairs impact Charlotte traffic)

Bridge repairs impact Charlotte traffic

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