“This is a huge partnership and a huge achievement,” said Fulton County Public Works Director Angela Parker at Thursday’s opening of the bridge between Oakley Industrial Boulevard and Ga. Highway 92.

Addressing those assembled at the Thursday ribbon cutting, Commissioner Bill Edwards gave credit to Sandra Hardy, Mel Sorrow and Larry Thomas, from the South Fulton group whose efforts led to the construction of the much-needed bridge.

“My love for South Fulton is immeasurable,” Edwards said to the mid-morning crowd assembled near the top of the bridge. “Citizens like Sandra Hardy helped form the (South Fulton) Community Improvement District and helped us do projects like this. South Fulton has been a player with the CID, GRTA and GDOT. We want to continue to be a player to make our vision of South Fulton complete.”

The $5.7 million Oakley Industrial bridge was funded largely through Georgia Regional transportation Agency (GRTA) bonds and land donations by area businesses valued at approximately $2 million.

“This is the end of the first chapter of our involvement,” said long-time community activist Sandra Hardy. “The second chapter will be the four-laning of Oakley from the bridge to Highway 138. And the third chapter will be the reconfiguration of Highway 74 and I-85.”

With its completion, the Oakley bridge is expected to impact the expansion of Oakley Industrial and provide significant beneficial impact on safety and economic development in the Oakley area, especially the large warehouse district. The new bridge spans CSX Railroad.

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