GDOT to host Calhoun open house for bridge plan review

DICKEY – The Georgia Department of Transportation will hold an open house Dec. 5 at the Calhoun County Library from 4-6 p.m. for the public to review plans to replace three deficient bridges on Georgia Highway 37 over the Pachitla Creek and overflows, which will require a detour.

There will not be a formal presentation at the meeting, but representatives will be on hand to answer questions. The library is located at 19379 E. Hartford St. in Edison.

The bridges are about a mile west of the small Dickey community. They were built in 1921 and widened in 1955 but do not meet current design standards. The proposed detour between Edison and Morgan would utilize Georgia Highways 216 and 45. Construction is not scheduled to begin until 2020 and is estimated to take two years to complete.

Comments, which will be accepted through Dec. 20, may be submitted during the Dec. 5 event or by using any of the following methods:

— Online at www.dot.ga.gov/PS/Public/PublicOutreach. From the menu, select the county in which the proposed project is located and click Go; select State Route 37 at Pachitla Creek-Bridge Replacement; click comment, and follow the instructions.

— Mail a comment card to Eric Duff, Georgia Department of Transportation, 600 W. Peachtree St. NW, 16th Floor, Atlanta, Ga. 30308.

Project displays and plans will be available for review at the website listed above for 10 days after the open house. Hard copies will be available at the Georgia DOT office in Albany, located at 2060 Newton Road. After the 10-day public comment period, a copy of all comments received will be available by request at the Atlanta address listed above.