A clearer timeline for replacing the Mosteller Creek bridge in Lyerly could be available as soon as next week.

Chattooga County Sole Commissioner Andy Allen told WZQZ News that the Georgia Department of Transportation is finalizing its report on the bridge and preparing to present its findings to the county.

Allen said he has a meeting scheduled for next week to discuss the report, and that meeting could provide new information on when the bridge replacement may move forward.

The bridge has been closed since June after an inspection raised structural concerns. Allen also pointed out that the bridge is not a newly identified problem. He said it has been on the Georgia DOT list of bridges needing repair since 2016.

Allen also clarified that the lower-cost replacement approach recently used on the Spring Creek Road bridge is not an option for the Mosteller Creek crossing.

The Spring Creek project used large modular culvert-style structures as part of an emergency replacement. Allen said the Mosteller Creek bridge spans a much larger area and is not situated in a way that would allow large tiles or culverts to safely handle the volume of water moving through the creek.

That means the county will need a different replacement design for the Lyerly bridge.

The upcoming Georgia DOT report is expected to give county officials a better picture of the condition of the structure, the recommended replacement approach and, potentially, the timetable for getting the project underway.

Allen said more information could be available as soon as next week following his meeting with state transportation officials.