GDOT Replacing Slygo Bridge, Requests Public Input
By LYDIA BERGLAR
News Editor
Photo courtesy of GDOT – The green portion of Slygo Road on this map marks the bridge that is under consideration.
The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) is requesting public input about the plan to replace the Slygo bridge over I-24 at the north end of Dade County. The state-funded project is in the “preliminary design phase,” and construction is not planned to start until 2025.
Comments can be submitted by Feb. 24 via the webpage, https://slygo-rd-bridge-replacement-0016512-gdot.hub.arcgis.com/. Scroll nearly to the bottom of the page, and click the box that says, “Leave Comment.”
GDOT’s webpage reports that they are “seeking feedback about a proposed solution to replace the bridge over I-24 at CR 145/Slygo Road, five miles northeast of New England in Dade County, Ga. The project is proposed to prevent further deterioration and improve load-carrying capacity.”
The site explains that the bridge will be brought up to current design and load carrying capacity standards, meaning weight restrictions will be removed.
GDOT is working on a detour plan in preparation for 12 months of construction on the bridge.
The estimated cost breakdown spans five fiscal years, with “Preliminary Engineering” having already been completed in fiscal year 2020 and the construction to be completed in fiscal year 2025. The total estimate is over $7 million.
- Preliminary Engineering: $1,000,955.78 – FY 2020
- Right of Way: $91,000 – FY 2023
- Construction: $5,958,185 – FY 2025
- Utilities: $150,000 – FY 2025
- Total: $7,200,140.78
GDOT asks, “Please provide feedback about our proposed solution as well as information about any resources important to you or to the community. Are there events that future construction may affect once it begins?”
Photo courtesy of GDOT – This is the traffic reroute proposed by GDOT to be used during the construction.
The site explains, “After the close of the comment period, feedback will be assessed, revisions may occur to the proposed plan initially brought to the public or the no build alternative will be selected. Once a Concept Report is approved, the project alignment would be refined. If major changes occur to what was previously shown to the community, additional public outreach would occur. If no major changes are proposed, the project would advance to right-of-way acquisition and into final design. After all right-of-way acquisition occurs, project design is finalized, and the project would advance to construction.”
Carey Anderson, public information officer for Dade County, reported that GDOT typically organizes public meetings when approaching the start date of construction projects.