Albany’s East Oglethorpe Bridge renovation plans sparks concerns for business owners

ALBANY, Ga. – The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) is putting the first steps in motion with the city of Albany to renovate the Oglethorpe Bridge. However, there are some who are looking for answers as to how their businesses are going to be affected.

We caught up with local business owners, Gilbert Udoto and Dervin Cunningham who own Shackleford Center just a block away from the Oglethorpe Bridge, and they expressed their concerns about loss of revenue and traffic jams being so close to Albany State University.

“As a business owner, we are concerned about the time-frame, because this is one of the two busiest roads in Albany, and we’re going to be heavily impacted. So, we would like them to expedite it…” said Gilbert Udoto, Owner, Shackleford Shopping Center.

“This is one of the main hubs that they will enter into Albany. So, the businesses will be devastated here in Albany. If they could expedite it and do it in the slower season, then that would be good for everybody,” said Dervin Cunningham, Owner, Shackleford Shopping Center.

I met with Albany’s Ward 1 Commissioner, Jon Howard Thursday afternoon to talk about the plans for the more than 60 year old bridge that connects West and East Albany.

Howard says that there are preliminary things the department of transportation has to do before they start closing the roadway.

“What I’m concerned about, not as an elected official, I’m concerned about the citizens that stay in East Albany. We got to try to tell them they’ve got to change their traffic route, they way they go to work and the way they go home,” said Commissioner Jon Howard, Ward 1 Commissioner, City of Albany.

While roadblocks are still a ways away from going up on Oglethorpe Boulevard, Howard and local business owners want to start making plans now before traffic is impacted by roadwork.

“If they could do it in 18 months, even better than 18, that would be good. You know we have to be able to give and take in some of these things they endeavor in because of the longevity. The impact it will bring to Albany,” said Cunningham.

“So far, what we’ve got to do is to educate these businesses that are close by this bridge, and then at the same time, we’ve got to educate the community that the bridge is closed, but our businesses and store are still open in the Shackleford Shopping Center,” said Howard.

While any major moves regarding the Oglethorpe Bridge’s renovation won’t happen until next year, business owners on Albany’s East Side want something done now so they don’t lose business.

According to the minutes from a meeting with the city and the Georgia Department of Transportation, work on the bridge would begin at the earliest in late 2024.

Brian Roche reporting.

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