Winston-Salem staff recommend removing the worn-out bridge over Brushy Fork Creek and rerouting the road to Fifth Street. The $3.5 million plan would save about $2 million.

Winston-Salem may take down the Old Greensboro Road bridge over Brushy Fork Creek and not build a new one.

City transportation staff told the City Council’s Committee of the Whole on Monday that their preferred plan is to realign Old Greensboro Road so it meets Fifth Street east of the creek. The bridge would then be removed, and the old stretch of road would be abandoned and torn up. The staff report was an information item, so the committee took no vote.

Why the bridge has to go

The two-span bridge carries Old Greensboro Road over Brushy Fork Creek near East Fifth Street. City staff said it is at the end of its service life and already carries posted weight limits.

Bridge inspections recorded critical findings, according to the city’s presentation:

  • structural deficiencies
  • severe concrete cracking
  • corrosion

The two options

Staff studied two ways to fix the crossing.

Option A: a new bridge. It would have two 12-foot travel lanes, two 5-foot bike lanes with a 2-foot buffer and two 6-foot sidewalks. The Brushy Fork Greenway would still pass underneath.

Option B: no bridge. Old Greensboro Road would be realigned to meet Fifth Street east of the creek. That would require:

  • buying land from G Max Industries
  • building a new driveway for Creekwood Apartments
  • changing the existing Old Greensboro Road and Fifth Street intersection
  • moving the greenway spur so trail users can still reach the Brushy Fork Greenway

Staff recommend Option B. The presentation estimates it would cost $3,494,251 and save about $2 million compared with a new bridge. Staff also said it would mean less long-term maintenance, fewer conflicts with utilities, easier traffic management during construction and a faster project.

When it would happen

The project, numbered HM-0004, is at the 30% design stage. The city’s schedule:

Step Target
Final (100%) plans May 2027
Advertise for construction bids July 2027

The presentation did not give a construction start date or say how long the road would be closed.

What it means for you

  • Nothing is being built yet. The project is still in design, and construction bids are not due to be sought until July 2027.
  • The staff report said a public information meeting was scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 12, to show both options and take comments. The city had not posted a time or place on its online calendar by Thursday morning. CityLink 311, at 336-727-8000, can tell you how to send a comment.
  • If you use the Brushy Fork Greenway, staff said trail access would be kept under either option, with the spur connection adjusted under Option B.