Milton drivers can finally drop the detour.
The rebuilt Freemanville Road bridge over Cooper Sandy Creek opened to two-way traffic Friday, Oct. 23, more than a week before the projected end-of-October target, the City of Milton said in a news release. A Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) crew completed the opening Friday afternoon.
The milestone ends roughly five months of closures that began May 26, when GDOT shut down the old bridge, demolished it and rebuilt the span from scratch. The closure also blocked through traffic on nearby Landrum Road, Appen Media reported in July.
The Roundabout first reported the reopening on Oct. 25, noting it came nearly five months after detours began.
What the new bridge brings
The replacement span includes wider lanes, shoulders and space for a future walking and biking path, according to Appen Media's July report. GDOT flagged the old bridge for replacement through its statewide bridge inspection program, that report said.
The project was budgeted at $2.9 million, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution as cited by Appen Media in July. Neither GDOT nor the City of Milton has confirmed that figure in public statements included in the city's announcement.
Crews stay on-site
The bridge is open, but the construction zone is not closed. Crews will remain in the area over the coming months to finish other components of the same project, the city said. The release did not specify what work remains or when it will wrap up.
The city urged drivers to stay cautious around the work zone for the safety of both workers and motorists.
No city spokesperson or GDOT official was named in the announcement. The city's release did not include a contact for residents with questions about the remaining work.
