Demolition of Cedar Creek bridge is underway

RUSSELLVILLE — The demolition of a 60-yearold bridge crossing Cedar Creek on Alabama 243 in Franklin County has begun, and in about one year, a new, larger bridge will be in place, according to the Alabama Department of Transportation.

The new concrete bridge will be 140 feet long and 36 feet wide supported by piers, said Jud Young, ALDOT’s North Region/Tuscumbia Area Office preconstruction engineer.

Miller & Miller Inc. of Huntsville submitted the low bid of $2,754,368 to remove the existing bridge south of Russellville and construct the new span.

The bridge will be closed during demolition and construction, according to ALDOT.

The average daily traffic count south of the Cedar Creek Bridge, according to 2024 ALDOT traffic data, is 3,234 vehicles.

The new bridge will feature two 12-foot lanes and two 6-foot outside shoulder areas.

Young said it will also be raised about 5 feet higher than the existing bridge to improve drainage.

Kevin Evers, the ALDOT North Region/Tuscumbia Area construction engineer, said the bridge was scheduled for replacement.

The road will remain closed to traffic until the new bridge, a wider and safer structure built to modern standards, is substantially complete.

The project is expected to be completed by summer 2026, according to the Transportation Department.

Because the bridge will be closed to traffic, ALDOT urges motorists planning on travelling Alabama 243 to take in account the detour that is in place.

Commercial traffic must use the posted official detour, which is U.S. 43 from Russellville to SR 13 at Spruce Pine to SR 195 in Haleyville for southbound traffic, and vice versa for northbound traffic, according to the Transportation Department.

For additional road closure information, download the ALGO Traffic app, or go to algotraffic.com.