Hall County declared a local state of emergency Sunday evening, May 19, 2013, after downpours poured down seven inches of water over the weekend.
Lake Lanier — which was already over its full summer pool level of 1071 feet — rose by 1.24 feet to 1073.35 between Friday, May 17th and Monday, May 19th.
Stephens Road runs parallel to Lake Lanier in the area between Old Federal Park and Sunrise Cove Marina.
At least it used to … before the road washed away on Sunday night and took the bridge with it.
No matter how good you think our local road crews are it’s going to take some serious fixin’ to reconnect Stephens Road.
I am not a professional, but I don’t think duct tape, WD-40 and Vise Grips are going to put it back together any time soon.
The bridge is a popular spot for the curious and for film crews.
The short time that I was there a TV reporter was on the far side of where the bridge isn’t doing a news report.
I don’t think the crew was getting along.
I kept hearing the director telling “the talent” to step back …
back … back … just a little farther … back, back.
Local residents don’t have a clue how long it will take to replace the span.
Not to worry.
Gainesville has a dandy bridge that they could probably spare for a decade or two.
Nobody uses it.
Maybe they’d let Hall County place it over Stephens Road for awhile?
