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Dawson County moves to hire Gresham Smith for Steelbridge Road bridge repair design
Summary
Public Works Director Robert Dury presented a recommendation to contract Gresham Smith for engineering design services to repair the single-lane, wood-deck Steelbridge Road Bridge over Amakola Creek; the firm’s proposal to prepare plans and bid documents was reported in the transcript as $59,726.20 and would take about 16 weeks to produce.
Public Works Director Robert Dury asked the Dawson County Board of Commissioners to approve a contract with engineering firm Gresham Smith to prepare plans and specifications for repairs to the single-lane, wood-deck Steelbridge Road Bridge over Amakola Creek.
Dury said Georgia DOT inspections rated the county-owned bridge in “poor” condition in 2025 and that county direction at a prior workshop was to pursue repairs. He told commissioners the lowest quote he received for design and bid documents was recorded in the transcript as $59,726.20; that proposal would provide drawings, specifications, bid quantities and a repair cost estimate and would take about 16 weeks to complete. “They have indicated that their efforts will at least improve the condition of the bridge from poor to the next level up,” Dury said.
Commissioners asked whether the work is a temporary fix or a long-term solution. Dury said repairs would likely raise the rating by one grade to extend useful life — he estimated a conservative additional life of about 20 years — and that full replacement could cost in the millions (one commissioner cited a figure of roughly $6 million during the discussion). The board discussed using local SPLOST (special-purpose local-option sales tax) funds or other capital strategies for a future replacement if needed.
Why it matters: The bridge serves local traffic; the county must decide whether to invest in repairs to extend useful life or pursue a higher-cost full replacement. The proposed design contract would allow the county to solicit construction bids and produce a repair cost estimate.
What’s next: Dury recommended moving forward with the design contract; the work session included questions and clarifications but did not record a final contract award vote in the provided transcript.
Sources: Presentation by Public Works Director Robert Dury at the Dawson County Board of Commissioners work session on June 18, 2026.
