Phase I Archaeological Survey for the Proposed Replacement of Bridges on SR 18 over Long Cane Creek, Troup County, Georgia

The proposed project would consist of the replacement of the bridges carrying SR 18 eastbound and westbound over Long Cane Creek in the town of West Point, in Troup County (Figure 1). These bridges were designed using an HS-20 vehicle, which is below current design standards. Both bridges have an Average Annual Daily Traffic greater than 8,000 vehicles, but have a gutter-to-gutter width of only 28 feet.

The bridge on SR 18 eastbound over Long Cane Creek (GDOT Bridge 285-0022-0) was built in 1963. This bridge consists of seven spans of Reinforced Concrete Deck Girders (RCDGs) on concrete caps with steel piles. The overall condition of this bridge would be classified as fair and it has an unknown foundation that could be at risk for scour. The bridge on SR 18 westbound over Long Cane Creek (GDOT Bridge 285-0023-0) was also built in 1963. This bridge consists of seven spans of RCDGs on concrete caps with steel piles. The overall condition of this bridge would be classified as fair and it has an unknown foundation and signs of scour at the intermediate bents. Due to the functional obsolesce of these bridges pertaining to their design vehicle, their narrow gutter-to-gutter width, and the unknown foundation of their substructures, replacement of these structures is recommended. The existing right-of-way (ROW) on SR 18 varies from approximately 100 feet at the western terminus of the project corridor to approximately 180 feet adjacent to the Interstate 85 (1-85) ROW in the middle of the project corridor. Additional ROW may be required to implement the proposed project, but the design is not sufficiently advanced to know now.