Savannah River bridge connecting Georgia and South Carolina will close beginning Thursday
The Georgia Department of Transportation is closing the Talmadge Memorial Bridge over the Savannah River beginning at 9 a.m. Thursday and until further notice due to the possibility of gale force winds from Hurricane Ian.
Motorists should allow themselves extra time, the DOT said, to reroute due to the closure of the bridge, a major connection between South Carolina and Georgia.
Portions of South Carolina and Georgia could see 58-73 mph winds as a result of the Ian, the Weather Service said.
Motorists attempting to navigate vehicles across the bridge in high winds may not be able to properly control their vehicles, the Georgia DOT said in a news release late Wednesday afternoon.
After the hurricane passes, an inspection of the two-cable stay bridge will need to be performed and the closure will remain in place until further notice.
Two additional Georgia bridges are being affected by Ian.
▪ The Sidney Lanier Bridge on U.S. 17 over the Brunswick River also will be closed Thursday morning, the Georgia DOT said.
▪ The Houlihan Bridge on State Route 25 over the Savannah River in Port Wentworth was closed to maritime traffic Wednesday for the duration of the storm, but will remain open for vehicular traffic.
