Phase I Archaeological Survey for Proposed Bridge Replacement at SR 36 over Yellow River, Newton County, Georgia

The Georgia Department of Transportation proposes to replace the structurally deficient bridge carrying State Route (SR) 36 over the Yellow River in southern Newton County; the bridge is located approximately 10 miles south of the City of Covington. The project would begin approximately 1,500 feet northeast of the SR 36/SR 162 intersection and end approximately 800 feet southwest of the SR 36/Bohannon Road intersection. The total project length is approximately .6 mile. The existing SR 36 bridge over Yellow River is approximately 520 feet long with a curb-to-curb clear width of 23 feet 8 inches; the bridge carries two 12-foot travel lanes. The existing approaches consist of two 12-foot travel lanes with variable-width grassed shoulders, and the existing right-of-way (ROW) varies from 50 to 100 feet in width. The proposed bridge would be approximately 1,000 feet long and 36 feet wide. A typical section would consist of two 12-foot travel lanes and 10-foot shoulders on each side. Up to 150 feet of additional ROW would be required. The new bridge's approaches would be constructed at the site of the existing approaches. The overall design of the project corridor would slightly level out the grade of the bridge approaches through a combination of lowering the roadbed's profile and raising the bridge deck's profile. All components of the existing bridge would be removed, and the proposed bridge would be constructed in the same location. Traffic flow would be diverted temporarily to an off-site detour using existing roadways until construction of the replacement bridge is completed. The project corridor's current speed limit of 55 miles per hour would be maintained.