TREUTLEN COUNTY, Ga. — Drivers who frequent I-16 in southeast Central Georgia will need to find an alternate route, possibly for a while.
According to Treutlen 911 dispatcher Natonga Wesley, a tractor-trailer overturned and hit the GA 86 bridge early Thursday morning.
The Georgia Department of Transportation is reporting the stretch of I-16 between exits 71 through 78 is now closed. They say that accident caused the bridge to shift 6 feet.
Engineers are on site and several agencies are at the scene helping with road closings.
Later Thursday, GDOT said the tentative plan is to demolish the bridge and reopen one lane in each interstate direction by Saturday, July 17.
They plan to continue demolition the following week and hope to have all lanes reopened by Saturday, July 24.
Gov. Brian Kemp is expected to provide an update on the crash at 3 p.m.
Detour information
Westbound drivers should get off at exit 78, turn right onto Highway 221N, left onto US 80W, go through Adrian, make a left onto SR 15, and then get back onto I-16 at exit 71.
Eastbound drivers should get off at exit 71, turn right onto Highway 15 through Soperton, make a left onto SR 46, left onto SR 56, and then get back onto I-16 at exit 78.
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