Tennessee Department of Transportation Commissioner John Schroer joined with state and local officials today (Tuesday) to celebrate a milestone in the major bridge rehabilitation project on the Hurricane Bridge on State Route 56 over the Caney Fork River in DeKalb County. After being down to only one lane for over two years to allow the contractor to safely work on the bridge, the project had progressed enough that the bridge can now be reopened to two lanes of traffic.
**NEW!!** Photos of the Hurricane Bridge when it was constructed in 1949, as well as photos of the newly reconstructed bridge can be found here:http://www.flickr.com/photos/tndot/sets/72157635152159737/
“The Hurricane Bridge is very important to the DeKalb County area and the entire region,” said Commissioner Schroer. “I am pleased to be here today to join with our state and local partners to celebrate the reopening of the bridge to two lanes of traffic.”
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Work began in February 2011 on the project to fully rehabilitate the 1954 Truss bridge, which was showing signs of aging. The structure has undergone a full rehabilitation, including truss strengthening, steel repair, painting, and bridge deck removal and replacement. The prime contractor for the $28.1 million project is OCCI, Inc. from Fulton Missouri, and the original contract completion date is October 31, 2013.
Even though the bridge has reopened to two lanes, the contractor still has some remaining work to do and will be working in the area until all remaining work is completed.
Senator Mae Beavers, Representative Terri Lynn Weaver, and Representative Mark Pody represent DeKalb County in the Tennessee General Assembly and have been instrumental in bringing this important project to the area.
Among those on hand for the ribbon cutting in addition to Commissioner Schroer, Senator Beavers, and Representative Weaver were County Mayor Mike Foster, Smithville Mayor Jimmy Poss, Liberty Mayor Dwight Mathis, and Chamber Director Suzanne Williams.