The old Boling Bridge over Lake Lanier may be gone, but three governments in the region will have a keepsake of the old green bridge for history's sake.
The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) Northeast District hosted a small ceremony to gift pieces of the old bridge to the city of Gainesville, Hall County and Forsyth County.
GDOT's Hall County area construction staff worked together with construction partner Scott Bridge Company, Inc. of Opelika, AL to secure three 500-pound pieces of green steel as keepsakes for the local communities.
"These structures are a piece of history for the surrounding communities. Finding a way to memorialize it was a challenge, as we can’t give everyone a piece of the bridge," said GDOT District Engineer Brent Cook. "By working together with Scott Bridge Company and donating some of the green steel to Gainesville, Hall County and Forsyth County, the public can remember this iconic green bridge for years to come."
Additionally, a section of the green steel -a gusset plate - that was a connection at the very top of the former bridge will be displayed at the Georgia DOT’s Gainesville District Office on Jesse Jewell Parkway.
"Having a piece of the former Boling Bridge on display outside our office was also important to us," Cook said. "This was the section of the structure that connects the bridge beams to the girders and columns. It was fortunate that we could have one of the gusset plates located here at the district office, as it embodies our mission with the Georgia DOT to provide a safe, connected transportation system."
The State Route 53 bridge replacement project was awarded to Scott Bridge Company in March of 2016 with a $19.7 million construction contract. The project realigned State Route 53 and replaced the green steel structure with a more conventional design that does not include overhead trusses.
The scheduled completion date for the new bridge over Lake Lanier is March 2019.
