The bridge at Wolfskin Road over Big Creek will likely be replaced in April 2029 through the Georgia Department of Transportation's (GDOT) Local Bridge Replacement Program (LOCBR).
Another bridge replacement will change traffic patterns in Oglethorpe County, but this time, residents will have a few years to prepare.
The bridge on Wolfskin Road at Big Creek is expected to be replaced in April 2029 as part of the Georgia Department of Transportation’s Local Bridge Replacement Program. The bridge is currently weight-restricted, which means certain vehicles, including fire trucks and garbage trucks, can’t cross.
“I guess the reason it's being replaced is because it’s reached the end of its life expectancy,” said Jeff Sharp, the county’s director for planning, zoning and compliance. “There will be an impact during construction, just like there is on the one on Crawford-Smithonia Road now.”
GDOT recently completed a bridge replacement on Moss Creek at Double Bridges Road, which caused that part of the road to be closed from last October to July. GDOT is also carrying out the Crawford-Smithonia Road bridge replacement, which began early last month and is expected to be completed Feb 2, 2026.
The work on the Wolfskin bridge, which was built in 1959, won’t start for about four years, but GDOT is already preparing for the process, which is expected to take around 12 months.
“The current total project estimate is $5.4 million; however, we anticipate some increases due to inflation and plan development,” said Neoma Walker, GDOT bridge program manager, in a statement.
Out of that estimated total, around $4.4 million will contribute to construction and utility phase costs, and around $800,000 will cover preliminary engineering (design) costs. Approximately 80% will be paid through federal transportation taxes and 20% through state transportation taxes.
Oglethorpe County will need to fund around $75,000 in right-of-way costs, according to GDOT.
GDOT inspects state and federally owned bridges and bridge culverts — excluding privately owned bridges — in two-year cycles. There are between 50-70 yearly bridge replacements expected in Georgia.
