MCCORMICK, S.C. — Construction on the U.S. 378 bridge linking McCormick with Lincolnton, Ga., is on hold while officials study cracks along the foundation of the structure at the bottom of Lake Thurmond.
Part of the foundation lies beneath 80 feet of water, and anchors support columns that rise above the water. Georgia Department of Transportation spokesman David Spear told the Index-Journal of Greenwood that the cracks likely formed as a result of temperature differences between the water surrounding the foundation and within the concrete foundation itself.
"We're perplexed ourselves," Spear said. "It's not something that should be happening."
Environmental factors like water temperature were studied before construction began in April 2010, Spear said, calling the situation "distressing."
The study should be done sometime in July, according to Spear.
The $22.4 million project is contracted to Scott Bridge Co., of Opelika, Ala., and was initially scheduled to be finished by the end of this month. Now, Spear said officials won't be able to forecast when the bridge will be complete until the study is done.
"We're sorry for the inconvenience, but we want to build a bridge that people are confident they can use," Spear said. "We're going to build this thing to last for decades."