The long wait for the replacement bridge over Shoal Creek on Lower Fayetteville Road in east Coweta County is nearly over. The project that began nearly nine months ago could be completed by mid-August.
Construction crews for the $1 million bridge replacement project funded by the Ga. Dept. of Transportation closed the eastern portion of Lower Fayetteville Road in late November. That meant motorists accustomed to using Lower Fayetteville had to use Ga. Highway 34 for their east-west travels, since that is the only other route going directly from Newnan to Peachtree City.
As it stands today, the bridge work is done and awaiting the completion of the more minor aspects of the project. Coweta County Community and Human Resources Director Tom Corker said paving and guardrail installation remains to be done, followed by striping, grassing, and corrective work.
“If the weather cooperates, the project could be completed by early to mid-August,” Corker said.
The replacement bridge over Shoal Creek will be approximately 100 feet longer and 3.5 feet higher in elevation than the original bridge.
Coweta County spokeswoman Patricia Palmer last year said, “The need for this replacement is great, as this bridge serves a very busy road and it is one of the lowest rated bridges in the county.”
The need to replace the bridge was noted in a 2010 report by Coweta County Engineering and Development Director Wayne Kennedy.
Referencing a number of bridges across the county that needed replacing, county staff said bridges scoring below 50-point sufficiency are considered to be in need of replacement. Citing a specific example from the list, staff said the Shoal Creek bridge at Lower Fayetteville Road had a rating of seven points.
