THOMASVILLE — Grady County officials say a local bridge is expected to close next week for a replacement project.

Joyner Road bridge, located over Little Tired Creek, is currently 194 feet long and 24 feet wide, made of concrete and wood piling. The expected replacement bridge will be 280 feet long by 40 feet wide, made of concrete.

“The road is going to be closed Jan. 15,” County Administrator Rusty Moye said. “The estimated time of traffic diversion is 180 days, but the state has until Oct. 31 to finish the project.”

Georgia Department of Transportation’s Craig Solomon, communications officer, said the project was let out for bid Oct. 19. Jim Boyd Construction was awarded the contract for $1,986,606.45.

This project is being paid for with state and federal funds, Solomon said.

Construction was authorized on Dec. 15.

Yancey Maxwell, county roads and bridges superintendent, said the bridge — built in the late 1960s to early 1970s — has undergone repairs in the last 10 years, but is in need of replacement.

“People have been talking about this bridge for the last seven or eight years,” he said. “It really has become an unsafe bridge due to wear and tear and the traffic on it right now.”

Local entities had obligations to meet in order to help the project take place.

Grady County was obligated to take care of the right-of-way acquisition and appraisal required for the project. This cost approximately $10,000.

The City of Cairo was obligated with utilities, including relocating and replacing an existing 12-inch in diameter water main that attached to the north side of the bridge. The main was placed beneath the creek using a directional bore.

This cost approximately $95,000 and was completed using budgeted funds, city staff said.

The detour around the bridge, located on a well-traveled road in the county, will consist of Smith Road to Hall Road and then out to U.S. 84, Moye said.

Maxwell said all the county has to do now is put up the detour signs for the route; the rest will be handled through the state contract.

He said this project will be good for motorists traveling Joyner Road.

“This will be a bigger, wider bridge and the road will also be wider at the bridge on either side to make it safer for traffic. The elevation of the road will be raised from where it is now and the bridge will also have guardrails.”