Rejection of bids for Albany Oglethorpe Boulevard bridge project clouds start date for project

ALBANY – The closing of the Oglethorpe Boulevard bridge over the Flint River has been anticipated for several years, but the question now is when will the project that will cause drivers headaches for months commence?

Rumors about the impending closure of the bridge and the beginning of construction have been making the rounds recently, but while no firm date has been set for commencement of the project, it is certainly not imminent.

In August 2023 a Georgia Department of Transportation official estimated that the project, which could close the route across the river for as long a period as two years, could get started as early as in the spring of this year.

But with the DOT rejecting all bids on the project last month, that timetable for 2024 would seem to have fallen by the wayside.

The state has re-opened the bidding process and has advertised for another round of bids due in September.

The construction start has been rescheduled several times during the process, ranging from this year to as late as 2027.

“It’s going to depend on what happens in September, if and when it’s let and if it’s awarded,” DOT spokesperson Juanita Birmingham said.

The contractor will ultimately decide on when work commences, she said.

The Oglethorpe Boulevard bridge is traversed by more than 21,000 cars daily, according to DOT. The most recent rating of the bridge indicated that it was in fair condition but is in danger of scouring due to an unknown foundation.

The bridge was completed in 1953 during the presidential administration of Dwight D. Eisenhower. The aging structure does not meet current design standards, and the replacement is planned to increase pedestrian and cycling connectivity across the river, according to the DOT.

The proposed project includes pedestrian and multi-use enhancements that include the 6.5-foot sidewalk on the north side of the bridge and a 12-foot-wide barrier-separated shared-use path on the south side that was requested by the city.

The total estimated cost for the bridge is $18.2 million. Construction is expected to take about two years.

The city of Albany will be responsible for moving gas and water lines that currently run along the path of the bridge, according to Assistant City Manager Bruce Maples.

“Once the new bridge superstructure is completed, a new gas main and water main will be attached under the bridge and reconnected to the infrastructure on both sides,” Maples said in an email response. “As part of the construction of the bridge, a portion of the Eastside Interceptor sewer will have to be realigned to allow for the construction of a new bridge footing.

“For this work, the City Commission authorized the expenditure of up to $675,570. This expenditure was approved in July of 2023.”

File Photo: Alan MauldinAlanMauldin[email protected]