Public invited to weigh in on plans to replace Dawsonville Hwy. bridge

GAINESVILLE - The Georgia Department of Transportation announces a public information open house meeting to discuss replacing the existing State Route 53 Bridge over the Chestatee River portion of Lake Lanier at the Forsyth-Hall County Line.<br /> <br /> The Open House is scheduled from 5:00-7:00 Tuesday, December 13 at Chestatee High School in Gainesville. Georgia DOT engineers and consultants will be available to discuss the proposals. There will not be a formal presentation during the open house.<br /> <br /> State DOT spokeswoman Teri Pope says the existing bridge was built in 1959 "and has served us well but it is time to replace it."<br /> <br /> She says the new bridge will be two lanes but will be designed with plans in mind to widen Highway 53 which would necessitate two two-lane spans. But she emphasized that the widening of the road and construction of a second bridge are "several years down the road."<br /> <br /> Pope says there is still some right-of-way to be purchased and if all goes well, work on the new bridge should begin in 2016. <br /> <br /> Anyone unable to attend the public information open house may send comments on the project to Glenn Bowman, State Environmental Administrator