Peachtree City officials are close to completing the next step in finishing off the golf cart bridge that spans the CSX railroad tracks on Ga. Highway 54 west.

The right of way acquisition process is nearly complete. That means the city can go ahead with contacting utilities, developing construction drawings and a cost estimate, which must be approved by the Georgia Department of Transportation, said City Engineer David Borkowski.

Once that review is complete, the city will be told whether the project can be put out to bid.

Although the bridge deck itself is in place, it hasn’t yet been connected to the cart path system. Those path approaches are all that stands between the bridge being empty and the bridge being used.

Meanwhile the bridge sits unused, closed to all traffic since its construction was completed in the fall of 2006. The bridge was initially scheduled to open in April, 2007, but got bogged down in delays in large part due to navigating the state’s approval process, city officials have said.

The bridge will be the first of its kind in the city, as it is coupled with special tunnels under the road bridge. The path connections will spiral up from ground level to connect the paths to the bridge.

Much of the initial holdup was due to a DOT review of whether or not the bridge would negatively impact air quality, city officials said. Ironically, the cart path system is widely recognized for improving air quality by encouraging residents to walk or drive their golf carts or bikes instead of driving in their cars for short trips.

Another facet of the holdup was a personnel change at Moreland Altobelli, a private engineering firm that is doing engineering review work on DOT’s behalf, city officials have said.

City Manager Bernie McMullen has previously said delays on opening the bridge have not been the fault of the city.