DOT will host open house to discuss bridge

If all goes as planned, a new concrete bridge will span Little River to connect Lincoln County with Columbia County.

Construction is not scheduled to begin until 2014. Nevertheless, the Georgia Department of Transportation (DOT) hopes to start work sooner.

On Thursday, November 19, the DOT will host an open house from 5 until 7 p.m. at The Lincoln Center to obtain input on the project design from the public.

According to George Brewer, an engineer with the DOT, "The new embankment and bridge will be located just west of the existing metal truss bridge. By doing this, we can maintain traffic during construction. It may be one-lane at times, but the road will never totally close."

The new bridge, which is estimated to cost almost $21 million, will feature a wider shoulder. "Currently, there is almost no shoulder at all for those who need to pull off of the roadway," noted Brewer.

In addition to the open house, the DOT will also accept written comments until Thursday, December 3. The comments may be mailed to Glenn Bowman, P.E.; State Environmental/ Location Engineer; Georgia Department of Transportation; 600 W. Peachtree Street, NW — 16th Floor; Atlanta, Georgia 30308.