Price–Legg Bridge

Price–Legg Bridge
Carries SR 47
Crosses Little River
Locale Lincoln–Columbia county line southeast of Lincolnton

The Price–Legg Bridge is a bridge over the Little River along the Lincoln–Columbia county line southeast of Lincolnton, in the U.S. state of Georgia. It carries SR 47.

There is a project underway to replace the bridge, which has been deemed "structurally deficient". It is scheduled to be completed in April 2016.

History

The bridge first opened in 1952, it was named after Homer Legg, a judge in Lincoln County[1] and J.M. Price, who was a manager of a gristmill in the area.[2] On September, 2011, the Georgia Department of Transportation reported plans to replace the bridge in 2014 in favor of a newer one.[1] The new bridge would be placed 50 feet (15 m) from the existing bridge.[3]

Dimensions

The bridge has a clearance height of 10 feet (3.0 m).[1]

Replacement plans

In the early part of the 21st century, the bridge, which is the only direct land-based connection between Columbia and Lincoln counties,[2] was determined to have experienced deterioration due to meteorological conditions and heavy traffic loads. At that time, it was discovered to be "structurally deficient". However, the bridge was not found to be in danger of collapse; just that cracks were found during inspection. In 2014, the bridge's condition was revamped to only be "functionally obsolete". The replacement project has been tallied at a $24.1 million price tag. The new bridge is scheduled to be completed by August 21, 2016. As of February 24, 2015, construction was 18 percent complete.[4]

A study that was conducted by the Army Corp of Engineers determined that the project would not have a significant effect on recreation activities. However, bank fishing would be hampered.[2]

In February 2013, a GDOT report classified the old bridge as "fracture critical". This was after some boats that were too tall for its 14.5-foot-high (4.4 m) overhead clearance collided with the bridge. These collisions left only one bolt holding a torn connection plate in place. The bridge has been inspected on a regular basis. Traffic has been reduced from two lanes to one, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. to work on the new bridge The lane closures were expected to last about three months.[4]

Four foundational piers have been built. The new bridge is planned to have two travel lanes, two emergency lanes, and a 30-foot-high (9.1 m) vertical clearance. This is compared to the current bridge's 10 feet (3.0 m).[4] The new bridge is planned to be built only about a few hundred feet from the old one, and on the southwest side, nearer the Little River than Clarks Hill Lake.[2]

The old bridge is scheduled to be demolished when the new one is completed.[4]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Pavey, Rob. "Price-Legg Bridge at Thurmond Lake to be replaced in 2014". The Augusta Chronicle. Morris Communications. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Pavey, Rob (September 28, 2011). "Replacing old Little River bridge will cost $20 million". The Columbia County News–Times. Retrieved March 10, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Project Info". GDOT. Georgia Department of Transportation. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Brown, Wesley (February 24, 2015). "Decade-old projects to fix bridges moves forward". The Augusta Chronicle. Retrieved March 10, 2015.


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