With the new year comes a major bridge project in Jackson County The Georgia Department of Transportation plans to close the bridge over the Middle Oconee River on Galilee Church Road for demolition and construction of a new bridge. The bridge, which is 3.7 miles southwest of Jefferson, will close Jan. 2 and reopen within nine months, according to the DOT. State officials said the original bridge has outlived its life expectancy and does not meet current design standards. The new bridge will improve safety and efficiency, as the project calls for raising the structure to remove a dip in the road approaching the bridge.