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Meriwether County narrows access to Massengill Mill Road bridge, seeks longer-term repair
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Summary
The board approved limiting the Massengill Mill Road bridge to local traffic only and authorized short-term physical barriers after staff warned heavy vehicles are straining a bridge posted at a 3-ton limit; commissioners directed staff to pursue longer-term repairs and enforcement options.
Meriwether County commissioners voted March 9 to limit the Massengill Mill Road bridge to local traffic and install physical barriers after staff reported repeated heavy-truck use had stressed a structure already posted at a 3-ton weight limit.
Why it matters: County staff said large dump trucks and semitrailers have been using the bridge since Georgia Highway 362 closed, creating a safety and maintenance risk. Commissioners approved immediate, enforceable steps—concrete blocks, metal-beam barriers, or a locked gate county staff can open for emergencies—and asked public works to develop a longer-term repair plan.
Public works director Griffin told the board the bridge “was condemned 10 years ago and dropped to 3 tons” and that “excessive traffic is what’s going to damage the bridge,” noting an eventual full replacement could cost roughly $1,000,000. Commissioners and staff discussed several short-term options to prevent large vehicles from turning onto the roadway, including installing double gates, upright metal beams or fixed concrete barriers positioned so local residents can still access the road.
Several commissioners pressed for practical placement of barriers to prevent trucks from turning onto the road at the state right-of-way. One commissioner said a concrete or heavy barrier should be located far enough back from the state route to avoid creating a hazard near the highway. Another recommended a guarded 8-foot-wide gap to allow local passenger vehicles while excluding large commercial vehicles.
The board also examined enforcement limitations. Commissioners noted that without enforcement from the Georgia Department of Transportation or the sheriff’s office, barriers and signage might be ignored; they nonetheless approved the short-term closures and directed staff to pursue durable physical deterrents and to return with a plan and cost estimate for permanent repairs.
Quotable: “They’ve been pounding that bridge today, especially with the closure of 362,” Griffin said, describing the current strain on the crossing. Griffin added that replacing the bridge would be costly and time-consuming, and that short-term protection is needed to preserve the existing structure.
What’s next: Staff will implement approved short-term measures, prepare cost estimates for longer-term repairs and report back to the board. The public hearing on the related Dobson Road closure was separately continued to the board’s March 24 meeting to allow additional departmental input on notification and safety checks.
