LULA — Lula officials say Norfolk Southern Corp. officials want to pay the city to allow them to dismantle the Cobb Street bridge over the railroad.
Built about 1917 and rebuilt a couple of times since, the steel and timber structure has been closed for several months.
Monday night, Lula City Manager Dennis Bergin said the city received an email from a Norfolk Southern official restating its earlier assertions for the need to close the bridge to traffic.
"He also stated in there that they've identified that the bridge should be totally replaced — based on findings of the DOT," Bergin said. "They concur with those findings."
Bergin said normally to replace a bridge like that, officials would go to the U.S. Department of Transportation for about 80 percent of the funding. The remaining 20 percent would be paid by the railroad, with the local jurisdiction also contributing.
To rebuild the Cobb Street bridge, it would have to be built to today's standards, which are vastly different from those of 99 years ago, Bergin said.
"Back in 1917, slope and grade wasn't a big deal," Bergin said. "More than likely, to replace that bridge in its current setting, slope and grade would not meet federal standards and consequently it wouldn't get federal funding."
Bergin said Norfolk Southern officials have translated their 20 percent of participation into round dollars.
"So, your friends at the railroad have proposed that their contribution of their portion of the 20 percent to them is worth about $100,000," Bergin said. "Would that be enough to compensate the city for them to remove the bridge at their cost and pay compensation back to the city?"
Bergin told city officials he thinks it's early for them to take the matter into discussion.
"I've been on the phone with Congressman Doug Collins' office today," Bergin said. "They're prepared to take this even further to the federal department of transportation. I've been in contact with your attorney ... we have some legal means that y'all can consider."
During the meeting, Mayor Milton Turner was vocal in his personal opinion that the current bridge, though closed to traffic again, is part of the city's history and heritage and should remain — even if only as a pedestrian bridge.
Mayor Pro Tem/Councilman Mordecai Wilson, who turns 91 this week, said he is not in favor of reducing access to the Banks County side of the city, especially for emergency vehicles.
Other than the Cobb Street bridge, the city only has the underpass and two rail grade crossings connecting the Hall County side with the Banks County side. There are occasions where long trains block both grade crossings.
"We're cut down to almost zero for emergencies," Wilson said.
Following the meeting, Turner restated his opposition to the removal of the bridge.
"I have not reviewed everything completely," Turner said. "I did go on record saying that I would do everything I could to protect the bridge, if it's nothing but a pedestrian bridge. It's part of our heritage and I would like to see it stay that way for many, many years to come."
No action was taken on the matter during Monday night's city council work session, but council members said they are keenly aware the public sentiment is to keep the Cobb Street bridge.
