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ZEBULON - Representative Beth Camp gave commissioners an update on the Flat Shoals Bridge in yesterday’s County Commission Meeting. The bridge has been closed for almost a month.

Pike County Times reported that the bridge was closed on July 17, 2026 due to essential repairs that would have to be made to the bridge before it could be reopened. At that time, GDOT made a separation between the repairs and reopening the bridge and the rebuilding project.

GDOT advised that the bridge replacement project is in the right of way acquisition phase and is being designed by GDOT. Click here to read “BREAKING NEWS: Bridge at Flat Shoals Closed for Repairs.”

Camp advised commissioners that the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) is looking for a way to reopen the bridge at Flat Shoals in the near future and then asked the commissioners for a commitment from the Pike County Board of Commissioners regarding the possibility of a boat ramp when the bridge is rebuilt.

Wait… What? A Boat Ramp?

Camp advised that GDOT is looking at the possibility of a boat ramp when the bridge is rebuilt. There has been a ton of discussion about this over the past 26 years as Pike County Times has been attending county commission meetings and even a lawsuit about restricting access beside the current bridge location at Flat Shoals.

There has been discussion with officials about the need for a boat ramp, but bringing this information before the county commissioners sounds like the possibility could become a reality.

So what constitutes “access,” and what does GDOT need from Pike County in order to make this happen? There is the possibility of a gravel lot so that there would at least be an access point to the river.

This is the bare minimum with a possibility of more. At this point, parking is not included because there is not room in the current right of way. A recent study advised that historical artifacts have been found on the other side of the bridge area which will not allow paving for a parking lot.

But access to the river at a Pike County location would be welcomed by many who have used the small drive to put their boats into the river there in years past.

GDOT is asking for a commitment from the Pike County Commission for trash cans and removal of trash a couple of times a week, the help of Public Works to partner with the Department of Natural Resources to smooth out ruts, etc. that could develop from use of a gravel ramp, and the Sheriff’s Office making sure that no one is camping in that area once it is opened.

Closing

There is a search for federal and state funds that could help possibly build an actual boat ramp at that area rather than just a gravel lot, but GDOT needs the promise of a monetary commitment from the Pike County Commission to help with a possible boat ramp before planning on this project goes any further.

This discussion is part of the engineering models and planning process for the bridge that will take roughly two years to plan for construction of the new bridge and a year for the actual construction. 2028 is the rough timeline for replacing the bridge.

County Attorney/Manager Rob Morton advised that Pike County Public Works may help with some of the required work on the pylons to help get the bridge at Flat Shoals back open again soon.

Commissioners asked for time to consider this matter before giving an answer at the next meeting on August 25, 2026. Look for this matter to be on the next agenda for the Pike County Board of Commissioners in the Tuesday night meeting.

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