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Region 1 commissioner says bridge repair has lengthened ambulance runs, slowing medical response
Summary
A Region 1 commissioner reported that a damaged bridge has increased ambulance travel distances from about 4.5 miles to 17.5 miles, and said local medical response times are 'extremely slow' until repairs are completed.
Bruce Blackwell, the commission’s Region 1 commissioner-elect, told the Oconee Fire Service Fire Commission that a damaged bridge has substantially lengthened ambulance travel routes, slowing medical response for some parts of the county.
“We're getting staffed right now until the bridge is repaired,” Blackwell said. “I just followed the ambulance through Copper Ridge Road in 20, 25 miles an hour. So our medical response on our end is extremely slow.”
Blackwell told commissioners that some patients who were previously a 4.5-mile trip from services on the other side of the bridge are now about 17.5 miles away because of the detour. He said options for destinations are limited to Long Creek and Cleveland while the bridge remains out, constraining local response and increasing travel time.
The comment came during the commission’s regional updates portion of the January meeting; commissioners did not take formal action on the infrastructure issue at the meeting. Blackwell said he will contact other local chiefs and follow up with updated contact information for chiefs and departments so commissioners and staff can coordinate response and mutual aid while the bridge repair continues.
No timetable for bridge repairs or specific operational mitigation steps were provided during the meeting.
