The time has come for the one-year closure of West McIntosh Road in south Fayette County east of Brooks to make way for a needed bridge replacement over the Flint River.
Work on the $3.1 million replacement was approved by the Ga. Department of Transportation (DOT) earlier this year. The road closure came on Sept. 19 and is expected to remain closed until work on the new bridge is completed in late 2017.
DOT on March 8 said a bridge construction contract was awarded for the construction of a bridge and approaches on West McIntosh Road over the Flint River in Fayette and Spalding counties.
Replacement of the existing bridge is required due to its low sufficiency rating. The existing bridge has substandard load capacity, structural integrity, guardrail and deck geometry. The replacement will meet current standards, including wider lanes and shoulders, improved barrier walls, guardrail at approaches and allow removal of weight restrictions, according to DOT.
The current bridge is 25.8 feet in width while the replacement bridge will have a width of 31.25 feet.
Fayette County Public Works Director Phil Mallon said costs will be funded with a combination of federal aid and funds from Fayette and Spalding.
The federal aid contribution for construction is currently programmed at $1,921,122 and the balance of the construction cost will be prorated between the counties.
The bridge work will come with posted detours. The official detour will be (traveling on West McIntosh Road from Brooks) to Grant Road to Lowery Road to Ga. Highway 92 and on to Vaughn Road in Spalding County and back to West McIntosh Road.
The expected completion date for the new bridge is November 2017.
Mallon said the design phase of the project has been funded jointly by Fayette and Spalding counties. Fayette used 2005 to 2010 Transportation SPLOST dollars for its share.
