Construction oversight puts $22.5 million project on hold
Work on the new bridge to Skidaway Island has been put on hold after it was discovered that portions of the high-span structure did not meet specifications, according to the state Department of Transportation.
Construction of the main span stopped about one month ago when it was discovered that some girders put in place did not match the elevations called for in the design, said department spokesperson Jill Nagel.
The contractor, United Contractors, is currently working on proposals to correct the issue, Nagel said.
It is not known when work will resume.
Department spokesperson Jill Goldberg said she does not believe the delay will add to the cost of the project.
The $22.5 million concrete bridge is being built to replace the 40-year-old Diamond Causeway drawbridge, which has gotten stuck and caused traffic congestion on numerous occasions and is becoming more difficult to repair. Proponents of the project say the new bridge is needed to provide a reliable way off the island in the event of an evacuation due to an event such as a hurricane.
The new structure will have a clearance of 65 feet, allowing boat traffic to pass freely under its span. The two-lane bridge, which is being built adjacent to the existing drawbridge, is designed to provide a smooth flow of traffic on and off the island for the area’s 10,000 residents. The plan includes the removal of the existing bascule bridge.
Donald Anderson, the construction supervisor with United Contractors, declined to comment on the issue on Monday.
County officials and others broke ground on the project on July 30, 2010. The bridge is supposed to be completed by July 31, 2013.