Bridge: Temporary structure would not improve emergency responses
McCaysville Mayor Terry Arp echoed the opinion of other city officials and citizens when he said he is “very much opposed” to a temporary bridge four tenths of a mile upstream from the concrete bridge.
Arp made the comment at the McCaysville City County meeting Tuesday, March 11, in front of a standing room only crowd.
He was referring to the latest letter from the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) saying the upstream bridge is its “preferred alternative” while the concrete bridge on Blue Ridge Drive (State Route 5) spanning the Toccoa River is being replaced.
“We’re going to fight that as hard as we can,” Arp said of GDOT’s temporary bridge plan.
Part of that fight started soon after the meeting with letters sent to GDOT saying their concern over the need for a temporary bridge for public safety access is unfounded. GDOT cited “emergency vehicle access” to McCaysville as substantiating the need for a temporary bridge.
A letter signed by both Fannin County Emergency Management Agency Director Patrick Cooke and Fire Chief Larry Thomas, and a letter from McCaysville Police Chief Michael Earley say that is not the case.
The letter from the county officials cites the locations of three area fire stations, the mutual aid agreement with the Copper Basin Fire Department, and the ability of ambulances, rescue trucks, and wildland/brush trucks to cross the steel truss bridge as providing emergency response capabilities.
The letter concludes, “Based on the facts as we know them, the construction of a temporary bridge will not improve response time or emergency services protections.”
Earley says in his letter that GDOT’s detour plans utilizing the preferred temporary bridge location present “severe safety risks.” These include inadequate roadway infrastructure and high levels of pedestrian traffic.
He echoes the fact “emergency coverage is already in place without the need for an additional detour.”
Earley called for the concrete bridge project to move forward on its own.
Arp said a meeting was scheduled with GDOT officials Friday, March 14, but confirmed that day the meeting had been delayed. “Everything is on hold,” he said.