McCaysville plan would destroy steel bridge

Bridge: City urges options while new bridge replaced

  • Mike Galinski, owner of the Riverwalk Shops complex, was all thumbs up when the iconic steel bridge spanning the Toccoa River and connecting the twin cities of McCaysville and Copperhill was re-opened after extensive repairs.
    Mike Galinski, owner of the Riverwalk Shops complex, was all thumbs up when the iconic steel bridge spanning the Toccoa River and connecting the twin cities of McCaysville and Copperhill was re-opened after extensive repairs.
  • Fishermen drift in the early morning fog under the steel bridge spanning the Toccoa River. American flags suspended from the bridge have long greeted everyone.
    Fishermen drift in the early morning fog under the steel bridge spanning the Toccoa River. American flags suspended from the bridge have long greeted everyone.

    McCaysville Mayor Terry Arp reviewed a letter he sent to the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) regarding the replacement of the “new” bridge with members of the city council Tuesday, February 11.

    In that letter, he addressed “four options that had been considered by GDOT for a detour during construction,” referring to them as having been presented by GDOT.

    However, of the options listed, numbers one and four were presented by GDOT while option two was presented by Police Chief Michael Earley and option three by citizens. All were discussed when GDOT officials, including District 6 Engineer Grant Waldrop, attended a November 12, 2024, city council meeting.

    Option one, a lengthy detour, was not addressed by the mayor. Option four, a temporary bridge between East Tennessee Avenue and Highway 60 near the tubing companies, received opposition from citizens at the November 12 meeting. That option appeared to be preferred by GDOT.

    Arp’s letter asked GDOT to consider options two and three with modifications.

    Option two, the option presented by Earley, would be to remove the iconic steel “truss bridge” on Grand Street and construct a temporary bridge. The truss bridge would be rehabilitated and restored at the conclusion of the project.

    Arp’s letter asked that option be modified to replace the truss (steel) bridge with a permanent structure similar to the one built on Shallowford Road off Aska Road in Fannin County, but make the bridge pedestrian friendly.

    During the meeting, Arp referred to the city’s expense to maintain the steel bridge, and the fact its condition continues to deteriorate, which includes the need for painting, and bubbling up and surface rust appearing on some of the steel. He said the work would one day cost the city $800,000.

    “The best option is to tear out the old bridge,” he said.

    Option three, also encouraged in Arp’s letter, was for a temporary bridge to be built connecting the city park (Toccoa River Park) to the east side of the First Baptist Church Parking lot. This option was offered by several citizens at the November meeting. This idea received opposition from GDOT because of the park.

    The mayor’s letter asked the option be modified so that the bridge would serve as a pedestrian bridge at the conclusion of construction. He said the City of McCaysville would support the project and its impact on the park, and that church elders expressed support for the option.

    “I would encourage you to select option #2 or #3, instead of GDOT’s apparent preferred alternative,” Arp’s letter concluded.

    In November, Waldrop discussed the urgent need to replace the “new” bridge, which he noted is over 100 years old. He said GDOT has discovered “advanced deterioration” where the ends of beams rest on concrete caps.

    Waldrop said, “The condition could result in load limits for the ridge, or in a worst case scenario closure.”

    GDOT is expected to reveal its plan at a public meeting in June.