Athens Drive Bridge over I-440 closing for over a year

The Athens Drive Bridge over Interstate 440 closed on Sunday. It will remain closed over the next year as crews demolish and replace it.

Officials with North Carolina Department of Transportation suggest planning ahead for some detours.

On Sunday through Thursday evenings from midnight until 5 a.m., drivers should look out for closures on I-440 as crews prepare the demolition.

Once demolition begins, drivers will be re-directed south and east of the Beltline to take Kaplan Drive to Melbourne Road to cross I-440, then using Powell Drive, Western Boulevard and Jones Franklin Road to get to Athens Drive on the opposite side of I-440.

Drivers north and west of the Beltline will follow a detour on the same streets, but in reverse.

Eastbound travelers will exit I-440 at Jones Franklin Road and follow a detour to Western Boulevard back to the Beltline. Drivers heading west will take the Western Boulevard exit and turn left on Jones Franklin to get back to I-440.

Work will begin on I-440 East at Athens Drive for two or three nights before flipping over to the westbound side.

Residents that live on Athens Drive say it's already a very busy street.

Monique McDonald says the upcoming detours will attract more traffic to her street.

"It's crazy. It's even difficult for us to get out of our driveway," said McDonald. "I'm really concerned about how I'm getting to work."

Chris Ladner, who lives on Athens Drive and has three little girls, said added traffic could be dangerous.

"Yeah, I'm hoping when that bridge is out it will actually prevent people from coming and they'll have to go around and it might quiet down a bit," said Ladner.

The NCDOT said the new bridge will be longer and wider to accommodate more lanes on the Beltline.

Any added traffic on side streets should be temporary.