U.S. Highway 78, heavily damaged by Sept. 21 flooding in western Douglas County near Busbin Court, was reopened to traffic late Wednesday afternoon.

Maintenance crews from the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) performed the repair work.

“It’s amazing that our crews got this stretch of roadway opened in only three weeks considering the extensive damage that was out there and the fact that we have had considerable rainfall since then,” Shun Pringle, GDOT district maintenance engineer said Thursday. “There is still some shoulder work to do, but the lanes are open.”

Raging flood waters washed out the road shoulder and undermined the westbound lane. The road was closed until the repairs could be made, Pringle said.

GDOT also announced Wednesday that a new $1.4 million replacement bridge will be built over Anneewakee Creek on Georgia Highway 166, allowing that major east-west corridor to reopen on March 23.

Motorists can call 511 for updated information about flood-related road and bridge closures or other construction projects on interstate or state routes. Georgia 511 is a free phone service that provides real-time traffic and travel information statewide. Callers can also transfer to operators to request assistance or report incidents 24 hours a day, seven days a week. More information is available at www.511ga.org.