RED BAY — Girder installation is underway on the new Alabama Highway 247 bridge over Little Bear Creek near Red Bay in Franklin County.
The $3.3 million project with contractor Riley Bridge Company began in late fall.
A crane hoists the prestressed concrete beams and lowers them into position on the caps atop the bridge columns. The long, horizontal beams will support the future bridge deck.
The contractor was to set 18 girders this week. Each girder measures 125 feet in length and weighs about 125,000 pounds.
Highway 247 remains closed to all traffic in the vicinity of Little Bear Creek, about four miles north of Alabama Highway 24.
Commercial traffic must use the official detour, Highway 24 to U.S. 43 to U.S. 72, and vice versa. Local traffic may use other alternate routes.
For road closure information, download the ALGO Traffic app or visit algotraffic.com.
ALDOT anticipates the road to reopen later this year, once construction is substantially completed.
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