?LINDEN, NC– The U.S. 401 bridge over the Little River north of Linden will close starting at 8 a.m. Monday, so it can be replaced.

The bridge, which straddles the Cumberland-Harnett county line, was built in 1940 and has reached the end of its lifespan. Although the bridge has been maintained for safety, it has become functionally obsolete and structurally deficient.

The N.C. Department of Transportation in August awarded a $2.3 million contract to Smith-Rowe LLC of Mount Airy to demolish the bridge and replace it with a modern, two-lane structure that will have four-foot paved shoulders on either side.

The contractor has roughly one year to construct the new bridge and reopen the highway.

The marked detour will send motorists along Josey Williams, Wire and West Reeves Bridge roads.