Hoyt Street Bridge has been closed to thru traffic since late September. Now, the Cornelia City Commission is considering removing it altogether.
The steel and timber bridge crosses high above the railroad tracks near the center of town. Cornelia City Manager Dee Anderson says he’s been negotiating with Norfolk-Southern since June about removing it. He says Norfolk Southern would remove the bridge and clean up the area at no cost to the city. In addition, the rail company would pay the city $100,000 to get rid of the bridge.
The Hoyt Street Bridge had been closed since the end of September for infrastructure improvements. To date, the city has not received any negative feedback related to that decision, Anderson says. During a public hearing on November 1, he said the only comments he’s received are from Hoyt Street residents thanking the city for closing the bridge.
No members of the public spoke in favor or against the plan during the public hearing.
Commissioner Don Bagwell wants to allow the public more time to share their input because “once the bridge is gone, it’s gone forever.” Bagwell said it would interesting to analyze how removing the bridge might affect traffic patterns in surrounding neighborhoods and how it may affect city services.
According to Cornelia Mayor John Borrow, commissioners agreed during their work session to hold off a while before making a decision so they can better assess the situation and hear from constituents. He says in a few months they may have a better feel for which direction to go. He reiterated “once it’s gone, it’s gone and there is no putting it back.”
The aging bridge currently has a maximum weight rating of 15 tons. It’s constructed with steel girders and timber supports. Over time, the weight limit has decreased. Historically, the bridge has been used as a cut-through between South Main and Irvin streets.
