Did you know that the state of Georgia has experienced some major bridge collapses over the years? Things like construction, collisions, and even arson contributed to some of these disasters. While some didn’t have any casualties, other major collapses unfortunately resulted in fatalities. Rescue and response efforts helped these roads get back and up and running quickly. However, long-term construction and repairs took months. In one case, an entirely new bridge was built! Find out which bridge collapses had big-time impacts on the roadways of The Peach State .
#1 2017 Interstate 85 Bridge Collapse
This devastating bridge collapse occurred on March 30, 2017 after a fire broke out underneath the bridge. It closed the bridge for over 40 days and traffic was diverted to other roadways nearby. On the evening of the collapse, the bridge gave way roughly one hour after the fire started. The impacted section was over Piedmont Road in Atlanta . Around 92 feet of the northbound section collapsed. Motorists had to halt as rescue crews worked to put out the fire. It took another hour to get it under control. Fortunately, no one was hurt. The economic impact on businesses in the area was more pronounced. Many businesses saw fewer customers in the days following the collapse. They also had to contend with repair work in the area as crews cleared out the rubble and rebuilt sections of the bridge.