Update 2024-12-21: Clean Alapaha River, OK Withlacoochee River, Filthy Sugar Creek 2024-12-19.

Malia Thomas tried to cram two or three stories into her WTXL TV report about Valdosta closing the Gornto Road bridge over Sugar Creek. She asked me about all of the effects of the bridge closure, contamination of Sugar Creek, sewage spills, Valdosta municipal bonds for water and sewer projects, how those are all related, and what caused them. A for effort to Malia.

Malia Thomas, WTXL TV, Gornto Road closed @ Sugar Creek 2024-12-20, Valdosta $67 M water & sewer bonds, Report sewage sights or smells

Among other things I said on-camera: to help find the source of the ongoing contamination in Sugar Creek, if anyone sees or smells sewage near Sugar Creek, One Mile Branch, or Hightower Creek, please let us know:
https://wwals.net/report/

And contact Valdosta Utilities:
https://www.valdostacity.com/utilities

After excerpts from the WTXL story, I’ve included the Valdosta press releases about the bridge closure and businesses remaining open.

Malia Thomas, WTXL TV, December 20, 2024, Recent flood damage prompts repairs to Gornto Road bridge in Valdosta:
Valdosta works to repair Gornto Road after flood erosion compromises Earl Wetherington Bridge.

…

• Heavy flooding from Hurricane Helene caused erosion under the Earl Wetherington Bridge on Gornto Road in Valdosta.

Erosion

• The city approved $67 million in municipal bonds for water and sewer projects to address infrastructure issues.

$67 million municipal bonds for water and sewer projects

• Watch the video to see how this impacts neighbors.

Alternate routes

https://www.wtxl.com/valdosta/recent-flood-damage-prompts-repairs-to-gornto-road-bridge-in-valdosta

BROADCAST TRANSCRIPT

Gornto Road’s closed again.

Instead of a water main break, this time around, it’s erosion under the Earl Wetherington Bridge. That’s due to heavy flooding last month.

Movie: Valdosta preparing to remove some deadfalls from Sugar Creek at Gornto Road (59M)

“You can see in the background they’re hauling out some deadfalls, dead trees, that were up against the bridge pylons, which can’t be good.”

Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman

John [S.] Quarterman has lived in Lowndes County his whole life.

I actually told her I was born here. After living a number of other places, I’ve been back here for more than a dozen years.

As the Suwan[n]ee Riverkeeper for the local WWALS Watershed Coalition, he stays on top of environmental issues in our city.

He says he’s seen the need for road and infrastructure updates for years.

“This all started decades ago, when Valdosta was growing quickly and not enough attention was paid to the sewer infrastructure.”

The city has been taking action on fixing its roads and infrastructure since Hurricane Helene and the following rainstorms. City leaders have approved $67 million in municipal bonds for water and sewer projects at a recent city council meeting.

Valdosta VY 2025 Budget with $67 million bond for water and sewer projects

So far as I know, the water and sewer bonds will pay for getting ahead on sewer system repairs, but they will not pay for bridge repairs. However, I haven’t seen a list of projects yet.

Back to Malia.

As for the bridge on Gornto Road, city engineer Ben O’Dow[d] tells me in a statement that they’re working as quickly as possible to make make necessary repairs. Neighbors are encouraged to utilize alternate arterial routes such as Baytree, Jerry Jones, and I-75 until repairs are completed.

Here’s a map for orientation.

Map: Gornto Road Sugar Creek Bridge in the WWALS map of the Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail (WLRWT)
Gornto Road is highlighted top center.

In the meantime, neighbors like Quarterman are happy to be getting new and improved roads.

“I congratulate and commend Valdosta Utilities. I hope this lets Valdosta get ahead of these problems to prevent them.”

…

Copyright 2024 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

John S. Quarterman, Suwannee Riverkeeper

The paper I was waving around is the chart of recent water quality test results on Sugar Creek from Where are the sewage spill signs, Valdosta? 2024-12-17.

Chart: Nasty One Mile Branch, Hightower Creek, Sugar Creek 2024-12-12, bad Withlacoochee River @ GA 133 2024-12-11
For context, see:
https://wwals.net/issues/testing
V means a Valdosta test result.
W means a WWALS test result.

I do compliment the Valdosta City Council for getting the water and sewer bonds in gear, and I congratulate Valdosta Utilities for trying to find the source of this ongoing contamination in Sugar Creek, but we still need to find it.

City of Valdosta, Press Release, December 19, 2024, Gornto Road Closed at Sugar Creek Bridge Due to Storm Damage,

The City of Valdosta has announced the immediate closure of Gornto Road at the bridge over Sugar Creek. This closure is due to erosion caused by the November 7th storm event, which has created unsafe conditions at the west end of the bridge. City crews discovered the damage during ongoing storm recovery assessments. The City of Valdosta and the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) are currently evaluating the extent of the damage to determine the necessary repairs.

To ensure public safety, this closure will remain in effect until all repairs are completed. Drivers are encouraged to use alternate routes during this time. For updates, please visit the City of Valdosta’s website at https://www.valdostacity.com or follow the City’s social media channels.

For more information, please contact the Engineering Department at 229.259.3530.

City of Valdosta, Press Release, December 20, 2024, Gornto Road Businesses Remain Open Amid Bridge Closure,

The Gornto Road bridge over Sugar Creek is closed, but businesses in the impacted area remain open and accessible via alternate routes.

The City of Valdosta encourages residents and visitors to support local businesses by planning ahead and using alternate routes to reach their destinations safely.

Drivers are urged to exercise caution when traveling through the area and to follow all posted detour signs. Updates on the bridge’s status and repair efforts will be provided as they become available.

For more information, please contact the Engineering Department at 229.259.3530.

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

You can help with clean, swimmable, fishable, drinkable, water in the 10,000-square-mile Suwannee River Basin in Florida and Georgia by becoming a WWALS member today!
https://wwals.net/donations/

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