An Archaeological Survey of Eleven Bridges in Atkinson, Pierce, Telfair, Toombs and Ware Counties, Georgia

The Georgia Department of Transportation has contracted with 1.B. Trimble to do maintenance on numerus bridges throughout the state. In turn 1. B. Trimble subcontracted with Edwards-Pitman Environmental, Inc., and through them with Southeastern Archeological Services, Inc. CO conduct cultural resources surveys at each location.

The surveys were performed so that the Georgia Department of Transportation is in compliance with federal regulations concerning the identification and protection of significant cultural resources (National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 as amended; 36CFR800).

A total of 11 bridges were surveyed during this project. These are located in southeast Georgia in Atkinson, Pierce, Telfair, Toombs and Ware Counties (Figure 1). This is the "pine barrens” portion of the Georgia Coastal Plain that includes the Vidalia Uplands and the Bacon Terraces (Hodler and Schrener 1986: 17).

The proposed projects consist of replacing the existing substandard pile bent substructure with new pile bents at the same location. All work will be done within existing rights-of-way and the bridges will be closed to traffic during construction. The existing concrete "U" beams will be removed, salvaged and stored at the sites on either the existing pavement or shoulder. The existing concrete bent caps will be removed and the existing timber piles cut off below the ground line. New timber or pre-stressed concrete pilings will be driven at the same location as the existing bents and new concrete bent cap constructed. Finally, the existing beams will be reset on the new substructures and guardrails will be added to the bridges. All heavy equipment will remain in the pavement and shoulder area.