On February 12, 2009, the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) performed an underwater inspection of the footings for the bridge during the morning hours of that day. At approximately 2:00 PM that same day,GDOT determined that the Broad Avenue Bridge structure was in critical condition and required immediate closing. Based on this information, the City Manager issued orders to immediately close the bridge to protect the safety and welfare of the citizens. Click here to view a copy of a report documenting the inspection history of the existing bridge and the bridge closure letter.

Since that time, the Georgia Department of Transportation along with their consultant team headed by Heath &Lineback Engineers, Inc. determined that rehabilitation of the existing bridge was not feasible and has agreed to fund a replacement bridge. They have been diligently preparing the environmental and design documents to demolish the existing bridge and construct a Cast-in-Place Post Tensioned Segmental Concrete Box Girder bridge. At this time, the bid let date has been set for some time in December of 2011. This date is subject to modification as the review and approval of the Environmental Document is running concurrently
with design development. It is anticipated that it will take approximately two (2) years to complete the demolition of the existing bridge and construction of the new bridge.