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A routine inspection of Albany’s Broad Avenue Bridge by the Georgia Department of Transportation this morning reveals evidence of erosion. 

Though city and state officials stress the structure is not in danger of collapsing, they have closed the bridge until further notice.  A team of G-DOT divers discovered the erosion on footers that sit on the bottom of the Flint River.  The bridge is now closed to both vehicles and pedestrians.  Albany Assistant City Manager Wes Smith said, “From the city's perspective we immediately ushered forces to get police department, traffic engineering, public works out, and as you can see now we have closed the bridge to all traffic.” 

G-DOT officials would not give a specific timetable on how long it would be before the bridge would re-open, but that the repairs would at minimum take many months.