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All photos are courtesy of GDOT. The photos above and on this line are yesterday with the latest photos with the bridge dissembled below.
SOPERTON - Overnight and early Friday morning crews were able to remove the GA Hwy 86 Bridge over I-16 completely and began clearing debris from the roadway so that I-16 could be safely reopened to traffic. Both Westbound travel lanes of I-16 are now open to traffic, two days sooner than expected. Crews are working to open Eastbound travel lanes by midnight tonight. Motorists should still anticipate some delays when traveling through this area.
"Georgia DOT engineers and contractors worked expeditiously through the night to safely remove the damaged bridge so that I-16 could be opened back up to traffic days earlier than expected," said Georgia DOT Commissioner Russell R. McMurry, P.E. "My thanks goes out to the GDOT team members and contractors who worked through the night and day today to make this happen. Our sincere gratitude goes to law enforcement, and I’d like thank those communities and individuals who have been impacted by this event for their patience and support."
GA Hwy. 86 remains closed while Georgia DOT continues planning the replacement of the bridge. No timeline for the work has yet been established.
The Eastbound detour from I-16 remains in place through midnight tonight. Motorists are urged to remain patient during this closure, and should heed signage, follow marked detours (or use wayfinding apps) and drive with caution on local roads.
Eastbound detour:
Take Exit 71 – Turn Right onto Highway 15, through Soperton, Left onto State Route 46, Left onto State Route 56, Re-Enter I-16 at Exit 78
Background
The DOT made a notification yesterday that Interstate 16 in Treutlen County was shut down in both directions from Exit 71 to Exit 78 following an incident early Thursday morning in which a large dump trailer hit the bridge, significantly damaging the structure and shifting it nearly six feet. Georgia DOT engineers and contractors evaluated the situation and determined that the GA Hwy 86 bridge over I-16 in Treutlen County must be demolished and replaced.
There were no injuries or fatalities as a result of this incident, and the GDOT extended its thanks to the Georgia State Patrol, local law enforcement and our local GDOT District 2 staff who worked quickly to ensure that traffice was diverted from I-16 safely. GDOT also thanked residents and local communities that were impacted by this closure for their patience while traffic was safely diverted from I-16.
All travel lanes of I-16 have been shut down from Exit 71 to Exit 78 between Dublin and Pooler since early Thursday morning.