North Carolina Construction News staff writer
Construction is underway on a new pedestrian bridge over Wade Avenue in Raleigh, as part of the Blue Ridge Road Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvement Project.
Crews are scheduled to lift the first of two steel bridge sections over eastbound Wade Avenue on Friday night, Oct. 3, continuing into early Saturday morning. The second section, which will cross westbound Wade Avenue, is planned for the second week of October. Both spans will be assembled in the median before being lifted by crane, with overnight work intended to minimize traffic disruptions.
The construction contractor is Fred Smith Company and the design consultant for the project is A. Morton Thomas & Associates, Inc.
Once the bridge sections are in place, crews will install safety railings, pour the concrete deck, add fencing and lighting, and complete multi-use path connections leading to the bridge. Sidewalks, curbs, gutters, and underground utilities work have already been completed.
The project, scheduled for completion by Fall 2026, is designed to improve pedestrian and bicycle connectivity along Blue Ridge Road from just north of Trinity Road to Reedy Creek Road. It will also feature North Carolina’s first protected intersection.
“This bridge will provide a safe, accessible route for pedestrians and cyclists and strengthen Raleigh’s commitment to walkable, bike-friendly streets,” city officials said.
The Blue Ridge Road Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvement Project is being completed in two phases. Phase I focused on planning and public input, which informed the preliminary design, while Phase II encompasses final design and construction.