Effective immediately, the Akins Pond Road bridge between Highway 80 and Middle Ground Road will be closed indefinitely, pending repairs, said Bulloch County Manager Tom Couch.

Georgia Department of Transportation inspectors notified Bulloch County officials Monday of issues with the "substructure, or pilings" underneath the bridge deck, he said.

The bridge spans Mill Creek a little more than a mile from Highway 80, near the Paul Akins residence, he said.

Residents of Hunters Pointe and Glen Oaks subdivisions and users south of the bridge may still use Akins Pond Road. Access to locations on Akins Pond Road north of the bridge is only available via Middle Ground Road off Highway 25, just north of Hopeulikit. Jerry Hall Road users can also use Lakeview Road for access.

Traffic controls will be in place to warn drivers approaching the areas. Motorists should stay alert while traveling through these locations.

It is not yet known how long the bridge will be closed.

"We will have to hire a bridge expert, and the bridge will be closed indefinitely while we figure out what is wrong and what to do to correct it," Couch said.