McCaysville officials were expecting to see about two months worth of repairs to the steel bridge spanning the Toccoa River underway this week.
Police Chief Michael Earley said the first step would be for First Fence to install fencing with gates on both sides of the bridge to secure the structure during construction.
He talked about the project during a city council work session Tuesday, January 9.
Once started, Earley said the contractor, Talley Construction, hopes to have the work completed by the second or third week of March. That timeline depends on weather and no structural problems with the bridge’s steel.
Councilman Jason Woody said the first week of April would probably be more likely for the bridge to re-open.
The bridge will be closed to all vehicle and pedestrian traffic during construction.
Bridge Street on the McCaysville side of the river will be closed at West Market Street and at the Yellow Bird Cafe on the Tennessee side. The alleyway behind JJ’s will remain open, Earley said. Signs will be installed warning motorists of the road closure.
Bridge work will involve tearing up the old decking, including the sidewalks, and replacing it with double pressure treated lumber.
The current decking is rotting because asphalt was placed on top of the lumber. “The structure was never designed to have asphalt” on top of the lumber, Earley said. Asphalt does not allow the lumber to breathe, which it must do to stay dry.
The cost of the project is $300,509.82, which includes $65,602.50 for the lumber and $234,907.32 for the labor.
An additional $14,388 was approved for the fencing when the council met in regular session after the work session.
The work is being paid for with a combination of Special Purpose Local Options Sales Tax and Local Maintenance Improvement Grant monies.
Mayor Thomas Seabolt said the work “had to be done,” and was scheduled during the slowest tourist season in order to have the least effect on local businesses.
Once repairs are completed, Earley says he hopes to be able to look at some permanent lighting for the bridge. “It’s the icon of the city,” he said.