The South River Road bridge over Bear Creek has reopened to traffic after being closed 18 months due to contractor damage, the county government reported.

The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) has inspected the repaired structure and declared its “live load capacity to be sufficient for state legal loads," meaning it is safe for truck traffic.

The bridge was closed on Aug. 8, 2011, after damage was observed that had resulted from blasting for a nearby utility installation by a private utility contractor. The bridge was evaluated by the GDOT Bridge Office on Aug. 9, and the county was officially advised that corrective repairs must be made before the bridge could be reopened.

Following prolonged negotiations between Douglas County and the private utility contractor’s insurance company, a settlement was reached and the bridge repair project was bid, the government reported. Tidwell Construction Company of Douglas County was the successful low bidder. The total cost for engineering and repair of the damaged bridge was just over $250,000 and is being covered by the private utility contractor’s insurance carrier.

The construction was managed by the Douglas County Department of Transportation.