Georgia DOT Bridge No. 111-00060P-00020N, Georgia State Route 60 spur spanning Hempton Creek, Mineral Bluff

Source document Quoted word for word from HAER GA,56-MINBL,1-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

Georgia DOT Bridge No. is significant because it embodies the distinctive characteristics of a continuous steel stringer bridge constructed in the Report prepared by: Michael Wing Transportation Planner Associate Office of Environment and Location Georgia Department of Transportation Aviation Circle Atlanta, Georgia Date: October Georgia DOT Bridge No. HAER No. GA-82 (Page 2) GDOT Bridge No. 145-00315-017.37E is located on State Route 60 spanning Hemptown Creek in Mineral Bluff, Fannin County, Georgia. This is the original location of the bridge. The current setting of the bridge, which is rural, is compatible with the setting at the time of the bridge's construction. This bridge is a continuous steel stringer with steel I-beams and a concrete "fence post" type balustrade.

The substructure is treated timber, while the superstructure is composed of steel stringers with concrete deck and railing. The structure measures 300 feet in length by feet in width. This bridge was built in Components of the structure routinely have been repaired and/or replaced with similar materials. Extant continuous steel stringer bridges in Georgia date from to the present. The bridge is significant because it embodies the distinctive characteristics of a continuous steel stringer bridge constructed during the Continuous stringers are commonly found in Georgia. There are numerous extant examples of this type found throughout the State.

This bridge is representative of those built during the which utilized treated timber pilings in the substructure and concrete deck and railing in the superstructure. This bridge is also one of approximately 560 bridges of this type found in the State and one of fourteen found in Fannin County built prior to Georgia DOT Bridge is one of many of its type designed and built by the State Highway Department during the Prior to a variety of bridge types, styles, and materials were used. Beginning around the State Highway department began to use a somewhat standardized form for most new bridges which used timber pilings in the substructure.

As stated in the Fourteenth Report of the State Highway Board, "on numerous occasions where the bridge site warranted a low-cost structure without sacrificing strength and durability, a type of bridge was constructed, consisting of treated timber pile substructure with I-beam joists and concrete floor slab and rail. This type proved very economical and satisfactory." Less expensive than steel or reinforced concrete, wood substructures enabled the department to satisfy transportation needs throughout the State and resulted in a dramatic increase in bridge construction.

The demands for material and manpower during World War II practically stopped the construction of bridges from to Only essential projects that provided access to war-related industries and roads on the Strategic Highway Network were placed under construction. In the post-war years, timber was no longer used as a bridge-building material by the department. According to the Twenty-Second Report of the State Highway Department, "timber of sizes and stress grades required for the construction of timber bridges has all but disappeared from the local market. Delivered price of timber shipped from the Pacific Coast is too high for consideration.

It has, therefore, been necessary for the Division of Bridge and Road Design to develop a design for a low-cost bridge built of available material that will meet the need formerly filled by timber bridges. This design provides a bridge of steel and concrete, stronger and more durable than timber bridges and costing but a small fraction more." Georgia DOT Bridge No. HAER No. GA-82 (Page 3) Timber substructures are an identifying characteristic of many of the bridges built in Georgia from to It was also during this time that reinforced concrete balustrades, with horizontal and/or vertical members, emerged as a popular material for bridge railing.

Concrete balustrades, with horizontal members resembling a fence rail, such as those found on the subject bridge, were used extensively through the and

Sources

State Highway Board of Georgia. Fourteenth Report of the State Highway Board of Georgia. p. State Highway Board of Georgia. Twenty-Second Report of the State Highway Department of Georgia. p. 59 I