Giant Bridge Beams to be Set in Place Over Eastanollee Creek Today

By Charlie Bauder, WNEG Radio, Toccoa

Expect some delays on SR17 in an out of Toccoa=Stephens County today.

The Georgia Department of Transportation will be setting the first six pre-stressed concrete bridge beams for the new SR17 bridge over Eastanollee Creek, according to spokesperson Teri Pope.

“The bridge beams are massive,” said Pope.  “They are 127 feet long.  They are six feet tall and they are pre-stressed concrete beams.  They are custom designed for one place in this bridge.  They are really like puzzle pieces and will only fit in one place.  Each beam is stamped to tell you exactly which beam (goes) on which span so they go in the correct order.”

Pope says the beams will be driven through Atlanta and up I-85 to Toccoa, with each beam scheduled to arrive every 45 minutes to an hour.   If everything runs on schedule, Pope said crews should start setting the beams at about 10 a.m. this morning.   The work is expected to last most of the day.

 As a result, motorists using SR17 in Stephens County can expect some delays.

“We also expect a lot of ‘looky-loos’ because it is really a cool thing, so we want you to know that it is happening,” Pope said. “We want you to know that we do expect some delays and to please remember to pay attention while you are driving.  Do not get caught up in distracted by the cool construction work that is happening.”

Construction of a new bridge over Eastanollee Creek is part of the larger project to make SR17 a four-lane divided highway from Memorial Drive in Toccoa to the Stephens-Franklin County line.

Pope says the project is currently on schedule.  Construction of the new, four-lane SR17 is scheduled to be completed by May 31, 2016.