Five day detour seen as an “error”
After the closure of a stretch of Highway 138 between Monroe and Walnut Grove produced delays and motorist complaints, state officials have apologized for the road issues in recent days.
The roadway has been closed at the Big Flat Creek bridge for repairs, requiring westbound drivers to divert onto Highway 78 through Between and hit Highway 81 in Loganville to come back through Youth to reach Highway 138 once again.
The Georgia Department of Transportation acknowledged that a significant error was made in approving a full closure of SR 138 for five consecutive days.
“We recognize the substantial inconvenience this has caused the approximately 20,000 motorists who rely on this route each day,” said Russell R. McMurry, Georgia DOT Commissioner. “While bridge maintenance and rehabilitation are critical responsibilities of Georgia DOT, a complete closure of a roadway with this level of traffic should not have been the approved method for delivering this work.”
The contractor is currently working to complete beam demolition, steel replacement, and concrete placement, with the roadway anticipated to reopen Friday morning. Crews are working as expeditiously as possible to meet that timeline.
To help improve traffic flow along the detour route, GDOT has added additional signage and is coordinating closely with the Walton County Sheriff’s Office. Officials said they appreciate their partnership and thank the traveling public for its patience during this closure.
Georgia DOT will conduct a thorough review of the circumstances surrounding the approval of this closure and will take appropriate steps to ensure a similar situation does not occur in the future.
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