It's been a year since over 50 years of New Bern history was closed down and months later demolished. The Alfred Cunningham Bridge was built in 1954, closed on May 15th of last year and demolished in July.

DOT officials say construction of the New Bridge is right on schedule to be completed in November of next year and open for New Bern's 300th Anniversary in 2010. The new bridge will be a double-leaf bascule drawbridge, in which the spans will lift upwards to allow boat traffic through the Trent River channel.

The bridge demolished after being rated structurally deficient and one of the worst bridges in the state, even though State Transportation Department officials said it was not a safety hazard.