Project Description of January 18, 2007
Project BRST-0000-00(302), Towns County, P.I. No. 0000302, would replace the structurally deficient bridge on State Route (SR) 17/SR 75 over the Hiawassee River, 3.6 miles south of Hiawassee, Georgia. The total project length would be approximately 1,894 feet (0.36 mile). The existing bridge, constructed in 1939, is approximately 120 feet long and 26.7 feet wide. SR 17/SR 75 consists of two 12-foot travel lanes, one in each direction, with rural shoulders. The existing right-of-way width is approximately 100 feet. The existing speed limit is 55 miles per hour. The proposed bridge would be constructed on the existing alignment. The proposed bridge would be approximately 200 feet long and 44 feet wide. The bridge would include two 12-foot travel lanes and 10-foot shoulders. The roadway approaches would consist of two 12-foot travel lanes and 10-foot shoulders, two feet of which would be paved. No additional right-of-way would be required. Permanent easement up to approximately 20 feet in width would be required along both sides of the project for the construction and maintenance of slopes. The proposed speed limit would remain 55 miles per hour.
During construction, traffic would be maintained on a temporary onsite detour bridge offset approximately 100 feet, centerline to centerline, to the east of the existing bridge. The temporary detour would be constructed within a temporary easement approximately 100 feet wide adjacent to the east permanent easement area.
Project Changes Based Upon September 24, 2007 Revised Plans
To minimize impacts, the proposed bridge size has been reduced to 185 feet in length by 50 feet in width. The proposed bridge will be staged constructed, with one lane of traffic maintained on the existing bridge and then shifted to the new bridge during construction. This would reduce the required easement widths and the project length. Temporary easements for construction access and fence easements have been added and/or modified.
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