The Greentop Road Bridge over the CSX railroad was closed Dec. 23 and will remain closed until further notice due to needed repairs.

The closure came after Coweta County was notified by Georgia Dept. of Transportation (GDOT) Dec. 23 that the bridge required immediate closing due to deterioration of the bolts and gusset plates. Repairs and/or replacement scheduling is underway, said Coweta County Public Information Officer Patricia Palmer.

The bridge was last inspected on July 1, 2008, when the bolts and gusset plates were noted as a deficiency, but not sufficient enough to warrant closing, Palmer said. GDOT has been reviewing all bridges, in particular those with similar type construction as the one that collapsed in Minnesota. The Greentop Bridge uses gusset plates, similar in construction to the Minnesota bridge.

Because of its known deficiencies, the bridge was already on Coweta County’s replacement schedule. Engineering is 80 percent complete and the environmental documents have already been sent to the federal government. If funding can be determined soon, right of way acquisition can begin and the project can be let to contract in April/May, Palmer said. The projected construction time is 12–18 months and the estimated value of the project is $2.1 million.

The Greentop Bridge replacement was part of the Georgia DOT TIP (Transportation Improvement Program) and was one of two that Coweta County submitted for possible funding through the economic stimulus program.

Canon Road at White Oak Creek is the other bridge submitted for funding. It is expected that the bridge cannot be repaired given the whole of its current state but county officials will be contacting GDOT to see if anything further can be done to shorten the amount of time the bridge will be out of service, Palmer said. The primary detour route is U.S. Highway 29 North to Herring Road.

By BEN NELMS
bnelms@TheCitizen.com

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