Winston-Salem Recommends Removing Old Greensboro Road Bridge
City transportation officials propose realigning the road to meet East Fifth Street instead of crossing Brushy Fork.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Auto Parts
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Winston-Salem transportation officials recommended permanently removing the Old Greensboro Road bridge over Brushy Fork and realigning the road to meet East Fifth Street east of the current intersection. The bridge was closed in 2020 after support beams rusted through, and a 2024 inspection found structural deficiencies and severe concrete cracks.
Why it matters
The recommendation addresses a bridge that inspectors have repeatedly found deteriorated, with corrosion and cracking documented in recent years. Residents and commuters in the city would see changes to how Old Greensboro Road connects to the Fifth Street corridor.
An average of 3,800 vehicles crossed the bridge in 2025 according to the N.C. Department of Transportation. The estimated $5.5 million replacement cost compares with about $3.5 million for the proposed realignment, and the report's final approval remains pending.
The players
Winston-Salem
The North Carolina city whose transportation officials are proposing the bridge removal and road realignment.
N.C. Department of Transportation
The state agency that tracks traffic volumes on the state road network, including the 2025 count for this bridge.
The details
The city's report, to be presented to a council committee Monday, proposes realigning Old Greensboro Road to meet East Fifth Street east of the current intersection instead of crossing the creek. The plan would require acquiring property from G Max Industries, a new driveway serving Creekwood Apartments, and changes to the Brushy Fork Greenway spur to keep trail access.
Timeline
2020: Bridge closed for repairs after support beams rusted through.
2024: Inspection revealed structural deficiencies and corrosion.
2025: An average of 3,800 vehicles crossed the bridge per NCDOT.
November 2026: City report expected before a council committee.
Roadmap
Decisions like this one often follow repeated inspection findings, when repair costs approach replacement costs for aging crossings. Here the city is weighing a realignment against a full bridge replacement, a choice shaped by the structural record documented since 2020.
Drivers who use Old Greensboro Road should expect that the bridge crossing could be eliminated and traffic rerouted to East Fifth Street if the recommendation is approved. Residents who use the Brushy Fork Greenway should watch for planned changes to the trail spur connection.
The takeaway
Aging bridges with documented corrosion can become costlier to keep open than to reroute, and the city's choice will determine how Old Greensboro Road connects to Fifth Street for years to come.
What happens next
The city report is scheduled to be presented to a council committee on Monday, November 9, 2026.
Further reading
Explore more local coverage in Auto Parts for context on roadway infrastructure in the region.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Winston-Salem Journal.
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