AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – It will have you soaring over the Savannah on a zip line, taking off from an eight-story tower to a platform on the Fifth Street Bridge. For many, it’s a can’t wait feeling.
“I would definitely see that as something I’d be willing to check out just for a first-time experience. That’s something that’s like thrill-seekers love,” said Joshua Idler from Augusta.Construction materials are on site, ready for the go-ahead.Since the project is on the river, it needs to be permitted by the Corps of Engineers, and the state Historic Preservation Office.The Army Corps said okay, but not the state.“Which has said ‘oh, we want to look at this a little bit more’. They feel the Challenge Course on the Fifth Street bridge could actually be determined as having an adverse effect,” said Jennifer Bowen of Destination Augusta.There is a review process, and that has the Augusta Historic Preservation commission stepping in to write to the state backing the zip lining project at the bridge.“And that body unanimously voted to support the Outdoor Urban Adventure Center and to write a letter to the state department,” said Bowen.Bowen is confident the state will eventually approve the project. However, the plan was to be open by spring, and now things are no longer zipping along.“The Historic Preservation department gets like 30 days to continue to review it, and so certainly that means while it’s still in the review process, that keeps us from beginning construction,” said Bowen.When it’s done, it will be a fun addition to city’s riverfront, but it’s not known exactly when that will be…