Group launches online petition to save bridge

A group trying to save the Broad Avenue bridge from demolition has launched an online-petition meant to help sway public opinion and convince local and state government leaders to spare the city’s oldest bridge.

More than two years ago, the Georgia Department of Transportation condemned the bridge from both vehicular and foot traffic after divers discovered that the footings of the bridge had largely been eroded away by the current of the Flint River.

In response, GDOT and the city of Albany devised a plan to demolish the current bridge and replace it with a more modern structure. A move that is supposed to occur this spring.

But a group formed on Facebook by advocates of the bridge launched an online petition Tuesday pushing city and state officials to spare the bridge and keep it for more pedestrian-friendly uses.

Organized by local historian Betty Rehberg, the Save Albany’s Historic Bridge Facebook group created the petition at change.org and began circulating it around the web Tuesday morning.

“A restored Bridge is vital for establishing Albany as a destination for heritage-based travel, cultural events, and eco-tourism. As one of only seven similar open-spandrel arch bridges in the State of Georgia, our Bridge is a masterpiece of engineering that has been celebrated in postcards and photographs since its construction, and it continues to this day as an instantly recognizable image in advertising by public and private groups,” The petition states.

“Our city