An Archaeological Survey of Proposed Improvements to the SR 155 Bridge over the Towaliga River Spalding County

On February 4, 2000, Southeastern Archeological Services (SAS) conducted an intensive archeological survey for the proposed replacement of the S.R. 155 bridge over the Towaliga River, in northeastern Spalding County, Georgia. The work was conducted for the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), through the engineering firm of Parsons Brinckerhoff. The bridge will be replaced in place with a temporary bridge constructed parallel to the existing bridge. The survey included the area 30 m (100 ft) either side of the existing bridge and rights-of-way for 300 m (1200 ft) on both approaches to the bridge. Although precise designs for the new bridge have yet to be formulated, the area of potential effect will be smaller than the survey area. The survey located one archeological site (9SP52), consisting of a number of wooden pilings in the river beneath the existing bridge. These pilings are presumably from an earlier bridge, which documentary evidence suggests was replaced in the 1940s or 1950s. The site is recommended ineligible to the National Register of Historic Places, because it fails to meet the minimum requirements set forth under criterion "d. " State Site File maps document the existence of one previously reported site (9SP12)in the project area. However, the location of this site is imprecise. Our work demonstrates that it does not exist within the project corridor. It is the opinion of the Principal Investigator that the proposed construction will not affect any archeological sites of significance. With regard to archaeological resources, the project should therefore be allowed to proceed.