By Jamie Gardner
That’s the question Willard Bennett, of Hazlehurst, has raised about the structure that spans across the Altamaha River. Bennett asked this reporter to go with him to take a look at the bridge a few weeks back. To the average eye, the issues with the bridge that Bennett showed to this reporter do give an appearance to cause concern.
After looking at the bridge, Bennett explained that he is a retired concrete business owner and worked in the industry for more than 20 years. He stated that he and his wife were traveling across the bridge on U.S. 1 North two to three years ago and this is when he first noticed what he called “issues or cracking” on the bridge. After crossing the bridge, he said that he turned around and went back to take a closer look at the structure. Bennett stated that he found that the bridge is deteriorating at a rapid pace.
Bennett cites that there is a material in the gravel of the concrete used on the bridge called “chirk”. He added that the chirk in the gravel and the lime in the cement are reacting to each other and causing a breakdown of the concrete. He also cites concern about the bridge due to its proximity of the nuclear power plant, Plant Hatch. He believes that if a large hurricane hit the northern Atlantic coast of Florida or the Georgia coastline, the bridge could collapse under heavy-river flooding and possibly have an impact on the power plant.
“Why should the citizens of south Georgia have to wait four more years to have a dangerous bridge replaced on the Altamaha River that is so close to the nuclear plant,” questions Bennett. “Something would be done if the bridge was in the Atlanta area,” he continued.
The News-Banner questioned the Georgia Department of Transportation (DOT) about Bennett’s claims and on the condition of the structure. DOT Communications Officer Craig Solomon reported that a routine inspection was performed on December 14, 2010, a fracture critical inspection was performed on February 2 of this year, an underwater inspection was performed in November of 2007 and a pin and hanger inspection was performed also on December 14, 2010. He stated that the analysis from these inspections show that the bridge is safe for all legal loads. Solomon explained that the routine inspection has a two-year cycle, and other interim inspections (such as the fracture critical, underwater, pin and hanger inspections) have varying cycle periods.
The News-Banner also asked Solomon about Bennett’s claim that a reaction from the chirk in the gravel and lime in the concrete is causing the bridge to decay at a rapid pace. Solomon stated that this is not an issue with the bridge.
Solomon reported that the bridge replacement scheduled opening for bidding is in July of 2012 and a two-lane bridge will be built beside the existing bridge. The News-Banner questioned why only a two-lane bridge would be built considering the ongoing widening of U.S. 1. Solomon stated that when the widening project for U.S. 1 north of the Altamaha River is built, another bridge would be built to the side of the bridge scheduled to be let in July 2012. These two bridges will accommodate four lanes of traffic.
As far as the current bridge is concerned, the DOT cites that it is safe. However, at least one person disagrees. Willard Bennett’s observations of the bridge show a number of cracks on the topside and underneath the span across the Altamaha River that are visually troubling at the very least.
