Speedy bridge replacement to start in Dade County

May 12, 2017

Dade County, Ga. (WDEF) – Preparations were underway Friday afternoon for construction to start on the Georgia State Road 299, I-24 overpass bridge.

“It’s going to be an interesting weekend for Dade County,” Dade County Chairman Ted Rumley said.

Rumley, who is also a former contractor that built bridges, said the bridge is the first one on I-24 coming into Georgia from Tennessee.

The accelerated bridge project, he said, will be the first of it’s kind for the state as contractors will replace the bridge in just one weekend.

“It’s going to be monitored, you know, and really looked at real closely, because it’s something that Georgia hopes to use. And, I’m sure a lot of the southern states will use it after this, because you know you’re not not tying traffic up. You’re shutting down that weekend … three days … and open it back up. So, it’s a big thing,” Rumley said.

Motorists in this area this weekend should expect to see lane shifts and detours.

“Be patient. There’s going to be traffic. There’s nothing we can do about it,” Rumley said.

The federal and state funded project took lots of planning and community meetings.

Rumley said the county didn’t decide when the project would took place, but expects everything to run smoothly.

“We’re looking at a weekend. So, it’s not going to be that bad I don’t think,” Rumley

Construction starts at 9 Friday night and is scheduled to wrap Monday morning at 5.

Georgia Department of Transportation officials in a Press Alert gave the following lane switch schedule information:

On Thursday, May 11 starting at 9 p.m., I-24 eastbound traffic will begin utilizing the median crossover within the project limits. Once crossover is complete, all four I-24 lanes will travel under the westbound bridge span. (Work on the I-24 eastbound bridge span will start Friday, May 12 at 9 p.m.)

On Saturday, May 13 between 10 – 11 a.m., eastbound traffic will be switched from the I-24 median crossover back to the regular I-24 eastbound lane configuration. I-24 westbound traffic will then be switched into the I-24 median crossover, and all four I-24 lanes will travel under the eastbound bridge span.

On Sunday, May 14 between 2 – 3 a.m., I-24 westbound traffic will be switched back to the regular I-24 westbound lane configuration.

On Monday, May 15 between 4 – 5 a.m., the SR 299 bridge will be opened to traffic.