Over 700 Georgia Bridges Deemed Inadequate for Heavier Trucks Permitted by New Law
More than 700 bridges in Georgia are unable to handle the increased weight limits approved by lawmakers earlier this year, as reported by Deputy Chief Engineer Andrew Heath to the State Transportation Board. The Georgia Department of Transportation and local governments will be posting weight restriction signs on these additional bridges by September 2. The law signed by Gov. Brian Kemp allows trucks hauling specific commodities, including logs and farm products, to have a weight limit of 88,000 pounds, up from the previous 80,000 pounds on state roads with a variance of up to 84,000 pounds. However, even before the higher weight limit, transportation officials had identified 1,363 of Georgia's nearly 15,000 bridges as unable to safely withstand maximum weights.
The heavier trucks permitted under the new law can only travel on local roads and state highways, excluding interstates, and are required to stay within 150 miles of their home base and avoid 13 core counties in metro Atlanta. The increased weight limits are set to expire on July 1, 2025, following a contentious legislative session. Supporters of the law, including logging, farming, and trucking groups, argue that it will save costs by enabling more freight per trip. However, opponents express concerns about potential damages to roads and bridges, costly repairs, and the possibility of increased stopping distance leading to more accidents.
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