A key stretch of Fifth Avenue in downtown Rome is expected to reopen later this month as emergency stabilization work on the Floyd County Historic Courthouse nears completion. County officials said repairs to reinforce the fire-damaged courthouse should be finished this week, clearing the way for traffic to return to the area as early as May 22.
During this week’s Foyd County Commission caucus meeting, Facilities Manager Ryan Davis said crews are making significant progress securing the structure.
On Wednesday morning, workers used a crane to install four steel support beams, each weighing approximately 1,200 pounds, at the corners of the courthouse clocktower. The supports will be anchored with steel cables and tightened to stabilize the tower, marking a major milestone in the emergency reinforcement effort.
Once the stabilization is complete, Davis said crews will need several additional days to finish utility work and prepare Fifth Avenue for traffic.
“If all goes as planned, the road should be ready to reopen on May 22,” Davis told commissioners.
Commissioner David Thornton also addressed concerns circulating online about the cost of the courthouse repairs, emphasizing that taxpayers are not footing the bill. Thornton said, “There’s been a lot of misinformation on social media. Every dollar being spent on the courthouse recovery is being covered through insurance, not by Floyd County taxpayers.”
