HELEN — Seven years after funding was approved for it, a northbound pedestrian bridge over the Chattahoochee River in downtown Helen finally will be installed this week.
“The federal grant was approved in 2011, and I was almost scared they had forgotten about us,” Mayor Jeff Ash said. “It will be an exciting day next Thursday, March 29. It will be the setting of the second bridge.”
Ash hopes those people who can will visit Helen Thursday to watch the bridge installation on Main Street at the Chattahoochee River.
“We’d invite everybody to come up and enjoy this little town,” Ash said. “Bring a chair and watch them set that bridge. It’s going to bring to an end a very long winter of struggles and getting those foundations in before the tourist season starts.”
Ash had positive comments about the firm doing the installation.
“I’m very proud of Square Deal [Enterprises] and the state for working together and getting this thing done in almost two and a half months,” Ash said. “The bridge is ready basically in town. It’s just being constructed off-site.”
Main Street (Ga. 17/75) through the center of Helen will be closed at about 8 a.m. Thursday, March 29, as the bridge is moved from the carriage loading area on River Street and set into place. Traffic will be detoured around the area for the remainder of the day. The bridge will remain closed until after the bridge is set.
