County Working with DOT on Stonewall Court Bridge Closure

Stephens County Public Works Director Tim Mitchem said he is working with the Department of Transportation regarding the closure of a bridge over the Norfolk Southern Railroad.

Last week, Mitchem announced that the Georgia DOT had told the county that the Stonewall Court bridge over the railroad required immediate closing.

Stonewall Court is located near the Toccoa-Stephens County Airport.

According to Mitchem, the DOT told the county that an inspection of the structure indicates that the bridge is no longer safe.

Mitchem said that he is still working to get the details of that inspection as well as more information about what will happen in the long term to the bridge.

“All they did was send us a letter saying ‘we want this closed’,” said Mitchem. “They did not say today, tomorrow, just in the near future, so that is what we are working towards. Then, hopefully we will have the conversation about what they or who plans to do with that.”

Mitchem said that he is not sure if the DOT plans to have the bridge repaired.

Also, he said he is still working to get the necessary materials to permanently close the bridge according to DOT regulations.

In the meantime, Mitchem said that while there is nothing up to barricade the bridge right now, people should not use the bridge.

He said they just wanted to give residents plenty of notice regarding the Stonewall Court bridge closure.

According to Mitchem, the bridge will remain closed until further notice.