A 10-month project outside of Kite is in its final stages, according to Kyle Collins, district communications specialist for Georgia Department of Transportation – East. He confirmed such in a Monday morning email, responding to a request sent out by The Chronicle on Friday, August 27, asking for an update on the Highway 221 bridge at Battleground Creek as well as an update on the Interstate 16 bridge damaged back in late July.
Although Collins could not provide the latter update because a schedule has yet to be been set for the rebuild on I-16, he did give the latest on the former.
The $2.113 million project began back in November 2020 and is all but complete at this point. Collins stated the main highway has been open to traffic since August 20. Today, contractors are working on removing the detour bridge. Once that is complete, the only steps left before crews to close out the contract with Gregory Bridge Company will include: permanent grassing, paving shoulders on the north end and driveways, and final signs and pavement striping.
This project replaced the bridge on U.S. 221/SR 171 over Battleground Creek.
Although the site is technically located in Johnson County, many Emanuel County residents and/or visitors likely frequent the area for commutes.
The total length of the project spanned approximately 0.4 miles, beginning 700 feet south of the existing bridge abutment and ending 1,200 feet north of the existing bridge abutment.
The project constructed a new 148-foot long by 39.25-foot wide bridge at the current location along the existing roadway centerline.
A temporary detour bridge measuring 90’x33’ accommodated traffic during construction.
Look for an update on the I-16 bridge in a future edition of The Chronicle.