JEFFERSON - The upgrade of a bridge in Jackson County is likely to mean more traffic on the heavily-travelled main road between Gainesville and Athens for most of the summer.
The bridge is on Jefferson River Road at Curry Creek.
State DOT District Engineer Todd Long says both lanes of the bridge will be closed beginning June 7 and are not scheduled to reopen until early August.
Long says by closing the bridge, work crews will be able to finish the project much faster.
"When a contractor can work without the danger of traffic so close and without having to have personnel for traffic control, the work can be completed faster and the work costs less," Long said. "Local traffic can access up to the bridge over Curry Creek but cannot cross the bridge. Motorists will be directed to use US 129/State Route 11 (the main route between Gainesville and Athens) as a detour."
The completion date for this project is October 31 but it should be essentially finished except for punch list items when it reopens to traffic on Monday, August 2, according to Long. This bridge upgrade project will cost approximately $2.4 million.
Thursday
July 3rd, 2025
3:14AM
