Oak Hill Road Bridge Update: Engineers Complete Fieldwork, Report Expected Soon

Engineers have completed the fieldwork on the Oak Hill Road bridge over Mosteller Creek, and a report is now being prepared for review, according to Chattooga County Sole Commissioner Andy Allen.

The bridge, located near Lyerly Elementary School, was closed to traffic on June 16, 2026, after a Georgia Department of Transportation inspection identified structural concerns.

The closure followed a state inspection conducted on June 2.

Chattooga County contracted with Spicer Group, Inc. to perform a third-party structural inspection and condition assessment of the bridge. The firm’s proposal, dated July 1, 2026, states that the purpose of the work is to further inspect the bridge and identify potential remedial measures that could allow it to be reopened to passenger vehicles while maintaining an acceptable level of safety.

Allen provided an update on the project Tuesday, September 8.

“The engineers have completed the fieldwork and are now preparing their report for review; hopefully, we will have more information later this week.”

The engineering work includes evaluating the condition and remaining capacity of the bridge’s primary load-carrying members and conducting a bridge load analysis. Spicer Group is also evaluating whether the bridge can safely support vehicular traffic under its current conditions.

The firm’s scope also calls for evaluating possible traffic configurations, including reduced lane widths, single-lane operation and center-lane-only use. Engineers are to identify any immediate repairs, shoring, stabilization measures or traffic-control requirements that could be necessary to facilitate reopening.

Project timeline

The Spicer Group proposal outlines a proposed schedule for the work.

The project kickoff meeting was scheduled for June 22, followed by an inspection phase scheduled for July 20 through August 7. The contract calls for the structural evaluation and reporting phase to occur within 30 days of inspection completion, followed by a final report two weeks after the reporting phase.

The proposal was accepted and approved by the Chattooga County Commissioner’s Office on July 22, 2026.

The contract also specifies that Spicer Group’s current scope does not include designing immediate bridge repairs or designing a replacement structure.

For now, the bridge remains closed.

The completed fieldwork means the county is now awaiting the engineers’ report, which is expected to provide information about the bridge’s condition, load-carrying capacity, possible traffic restrictions and whether reopening some portion of the bridge could be safely considered.

Allen said Tuesday that the county hopes to have more information later this week.

Oak Hill Road to Close June 16 Due to Structural Concerns at Mosteller Creek Bridge

Oak Hill Road Bridge Closure: Will Small Cars Be Allowed Back Across While Repairs Are Sorted Out?