Bridge Project Starting Next Week in Stephens Co.

A road project will close a Stephens County bridge coming up next week.

The closure will involve the bridge over Toccoa Creek on State Route 184, or Prather Bridge Road.

Georgia Department of Transportation Spokesperson Katie Strickland said the work is scheduled to start a week from today.

“The detour is scheduled to start July 18 and the road will be closed for a period of 180 days while they replace the bridge,” said Strickland. “The bridge is a 76-year-old bridge over Toccoa Creek in Stephens County and Baldwin Paving of Marietta was awarded the project with a low bid of $2.3 million for the project.”

While the bridge is closed, the DOT said a clearly signed off-site detour route will take traffic around the bridge during construction.

That detour will involve Highview Road, Old Rothell Road, and Camp Mikell Road.

The expected project completion date is January 14, 2017, weather permitting.

Strickland said once the new bridge is in and back open to traffic, additional work could be required.

“Once the bridge is open, there could be some additional project-associated lane closures, but those would be finishing the work on the project and those would be during off-peak hours,” said Strickland, who added citizens would be advised of any lane closures well in advance.

Strickland said motorists should use caution driving in that area once the project begins and use caution on the detour route as well.