The Thomas Street pedestrian bridge at the University of Georgia was closed following a structural analysis recently conducted during routine inspections of UGA bridges.
“It is the recommendation of the structural engineer performing these inspections to close the Thomas Street bridge to pedestrian traffic until a replacement bridge can be installed,” said Ralph Johnson, associate vice president of the Facilities Management Division at UGA. “While every effort will be made to expedite the replacement of this bridge, the project could take up to 90 days to complete.”
The wooden structure spans the road near the intersection of South Thomas and Baldwin streets and connects the N08 parking lot with the Latin American Ethnobotanical Garden.
Students, faculty, staff and UGA visitors — particularly football fans in town for the Bulldogs’ home opener against the University of Louisiana at Monroe on Saturday — will be directed to existing crosswalks.
Three crosswalks connect the N08 parking lot and the west side of Thomas Street.
Under the timetable Johnson announced, work on a new bridge probably won’t conclude before the end of football season. Georgia’s final home game of the season is scheduled for Nov. 21.