UPDATE: GDOT reopens Milledgeville bridge after major reconstruction

Officials say work continues in the area, but traffic is now moving again across the rebuilt bridge.

UPDATE (5/8/26): The Georgia Department of Transportation says the new bridge on U.S. 441 Business/South Wayne Street over Fishing Creek in Milledgeville is now open to traffic. Officials say work on the project is still ongoing and drivers should use caution while crews continue finishing work in the area.

41NBC has reached out to GDOT to clarify the official spelling of the bridge name after signage shared on social media appeared to show “Boone” instead of “Bone.”

ORIGINAL STORY (2/19/26):

MILLEDGEVILLE, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The Mayor Harry G. Bone Bridge in Milledgeville has been under construction since last May, frustrating drivers and businesses.

The Georgia Department of Transportation says the original bridge, built nearly 80 years ago, was torn down because it no longer met current safety standards.

Will Volk, District 2 Communications Officer for the Georgia Department of Transportation, says the project is a complete rebuild.

“It’s a total reconstruction,” he said. “The bridge that used to be here was built in 1949. It was substandard, and it just needed to be replaced, so they tore that bridge down completely and they’re building a new bridge, completely new up to standards.”

According to GDOT, the decision to rebuild instead of repair was the most cost-effective option, totaling about $20 million.

Officials say the project has taken longer than anticipated because of winter weather and contractor scheduling.

The new bridge will be raised 10 feet higher than the previous one to help with potential flooding concerns.

“This is something we see, bridges all across the state of Georgia,” Volk said. “You have a bridge that gets that old, I mean what was it about 75 years old? Whenever you have a bridge that gets to that age, it probably needs to be replaced, or at the very least a lot of rehabilitation work needs to be done on it, and this was the most cost effective option.”

The closure has been difficult for drivers. Resident Denise Woodard has lived in Milledgeville for 69 years. She says the detour route, Wayne Street, has been difficult and frustrating.

“The road is so torn up, everybody coming through that area to get on this road. That’s the difficult part. The road is so raggedy. Nobody fixed it before they started repairs. They should have fixed that area knowing you had to come through.”

GDOT estimates the bridge could reopen by mid to late spring.