In 2025, Hwy. 52 east may be closed for over a year while the Georgia Department of Transportation works on bridges along the road.
Gilmer County Chairman Charlie Paris and Director of Public Works Jim Smith told commissioners about the project at a March 10 meeting.
Paris said the two were looking for updates on the Lower Cartecay Road bridge when they saw the Hwy. 52 east project.
“We decided it would be a good idea to talk to them,” Paris said. “I’m happy for them to be replacing bridges, but ...”
Bridges which span Cartecay River, Licklog Creek, and Anderson Creek Tributary would be targeted from a GDOT map.
“Apparently they plan on doing all three at one time,” Paris said.
An official GDOT detour takes traffic down Hwy. 515 to Hwy 136 to get to Dawson County.
Smith and Paris suggested GDOT rebuild Lower Cartecay Road bridge before beginning the Hwy. 52 project to allow local people an easier time getting in and out of the area.
GDOT is supposed to bid the Lower Cartecay bridge project August 2022, Paris said.
“That’s been moved on us three times now,” he said.
Gilmer County Schools Superintendent Dr. Shanna Downs said the closure will be a major disruption for the system.
“I cannot imagine them trying to do it all at one time,” she said.
Six school buses use Hwy. 52 east with a special education bus and three going almost to Dawson.
“There are no good ways around the road,” she said.
A small detour can take a bus an hour out of the way on mountain roads.
Paris said a priority is convincing GDOT to finish the Lower Caretacy Road bridge to allow some relief before the closing.