North Oconee River Bridge, Athens Just east of downtown Athens, CSX Railroad crosses the North Oconee River on a 9-span plate-girder deck bridge. Along with the river crossing, the bridge passes over Willow Street (west side of river) and the North Ave./M. L. King Pkwy intersection (east side of river). The latter is shown above. The bridge was constructed in 1955. The previous bridge, built in the early 1890s, spanned the river using a deck truss, which is partially hidden by the covered bridge in the foreground. (From an old postcard). Another view of the bridge above. The masonry piers supported the truss span. (From: Charles Morton Strahan, Clarke County, Ga. and the City of Athens. Privately published, 1893. Online at Internet Archive here. RailGa.com. Georgia's Railroad History & Heritage. © Steve Storey Railroad History | The Depot List | Locomotives On Display | Odds & Ends | Sources & References | Home