Construction of the new Vernon bridge is underway

VERNON – Construction of the new Vernon bridge is underway as Anderson Columbia, the primary contractor, works on building a two-lane southbound bridge just a little west to the existing Weeks Bridge.

According to Florida Dept. of Transportation District 3 the new bridge will have two 12-foot travel lanes, a 10-foot outside shoulder, a six-foot inside shoulder, and a five-foot sidewalk separated from traffic by a concrete barrier wall. A parallel northbound bridge is to be constructed where the current bridge is located. Construction is expected to be completed in 2010.

In addition to the construction of the new bridge, turn lanes will be added to County Road 279 and State Road 277 and intersections will be realigned for State Road 79, County Road 277, County Road 278 and County Road 279.

The soon-to-be replaced Weeks Bridge has a long history and was subject of a celebration of its service in May.

According to “Vernon, The Heart of Old Washington County, Florida” by Mary Cathrin May and Faye Middleton with Erik Robinson, Weeks Bridge was built during a project that two-laned State Road 79 in order to meet the demands of increasing traffic.

“As automobile traffic increased, the state began to build two-lane paved roads and concrete and steel bridges in Washington County,” read the article. “In the 1930s, Highway 79 was constructed from the Atlanta line to the Gulf of Mexico.” As contractors paved the new two-lane highway the two-lane Weeks Bridge was to be built to replace an old wooden bridge over Holmes Creek.

“In 1939, the bridge was opened with great celebration and was named for Colonel A. W. Weeks, a political agitator, colorful lawyer and leader of the Populist Party,” said the article. “Weeks served in the Florida Legislature, and once was an unsuccessful candidate for governor; he was elected to office in both Washington and Holmes Counties.”

According to the article he was “an advocate of good roads” and died before the bridge was finished.

“The new highway and bridge were completed at an auspicious time as they had provided the military with an important transportation artery during World War II,” the article read. “The system improved travel for local residents, farmers and businessmen, and out-of-state vacationers for years to come and by 2010, a modern four-lane route will replace the two-lane road and the old Weeks Bridge.”