MILL SPRING — Local drivers should be aware that a major detour will begin sometime next week along Pea Ridge Road around the construction on U.S. 74.

Drivers will not be able to go west on U.S. 74 from Pea Ridge Road, according to the North Carolina Department of Transportation. Drivers will have to go down to the Union Road exit in order to get on U.S. 74 West.

Traffic will also go down to a single lane in both directions along U.S. 74 near the construction.

The detour will remain in place until the two bridges are finished, which is expected to be sometime in August.

Bridges are being constructed on both sides of U.S. 74 near the Pea Ridge Road exit so a road can be built underneath. 

The Tryon International Equestrian Center plans to construct a road that will go under U.S. 74 from the parking area on Pea Ridge Road to John Shehan Road.

The road will be so buses can traverse the area and not cause traffic problems along U.S. 74.

NCDOT officials said the construction should be complete late this summer in time for the World Equestrian Games, which is scheduled for mid-September at TIEC.

TIEC officials said the road is necessary so buses can be parked off John Shehan Road. The road will go from the current parking area at the front of TIEC on Pea Ridge Road, underneath U.S. 74 to another parking area off John Shehan Road.

NCDOT said Vecilio & Grogran is the contractor on  bridge construction, which NCDOT bid for $5.7 million.

During construction of the bridges, traffic will be shifted temporarily into single lanes in the current median, according to NCDOT.

The U.S. 74 westbound on-ramp from Pea Ridge Road will be closed, with a marked detour directing traffic east on U.S. 74 to Union Road, under U.S. 74, then to the westbound on-ramp.

“Drivers should slow down in work zones, obey all posted signs and watch for workers,” NCDOT officials said.

Visit DriveNC.gov for real-time traffic information and follow NCDOT on Twitter for updated information.