Augusta looks at road ahead for Olive Road overpass

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – The only things under the Olive Road Overpass now are roadblocks and barricades, sending local traffic around in circles.

“Can’t get close to the area where my house is,” said Sadie Pryor.

“So, it’s a big pain for you?”

“Yes, it is,” said Sadie.

“Man, it’s horrible you have to use extra gas to get over here which is on the next street it’s just bad  you know aggravating,” said Latron Smith.

The road was closed after the bridge was last hit again in February, repairs were completed in May, yet the road remains closed, with the city and CSX discussing the next steps.

“For the last couple of months, we have been working with them to see if we can install additional traffic devices or some other devices which may deter people in the future from hitting the bridge again,” said john Ussery, Augusta Traffic Engineer.

What would keep the bridge from being hit again would be keeping the road closed, but that would not be popular.

“No sir, no, no, no,” said Smith.

“Is that an option keeping the road closed?”

“Probably not at this time we’ve had that discussion internally, but the will of the commissioners is to reopen it at some point,” said Ussery

Reopening the bridge possibly with a new safety device a chain curtain at bridge height to alert drivers.

“I’ve called engineers all over the country actually there’s several of these in various big cities throughout the United States. I really wanted to know sort of what they cost have they been effective what’s the best way to do it, so I’ve been trying to gather all that information at this time,” said Ussery.

A commission committee is scheduled to discuss the bridge Tuesday. Commissioner Francine Scott said she would like to see it reopened with a new safety device in 90 days.

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