House · Introduced · 2025-2026 Regular Session

HR 1609: Lt. Col. Albert "Butch" S. Welch Jr. Memorial Bridge; Dekalb County; dedicate

Last action March 10, 2026 · House Second Readers

A Georgia House resolution would name the bridge carrying State Route 42 over Interstate 85 in DeKalb County the Lt. Col. Albert "Butch" S. Welch Jr. Memorial Bridge, honoring the late Army veteran and longtime state transportation engineer.

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In plain language

This resolution honors Lieutenant Colonel Albert "Butch" S. Welch, Jr., who served two tours in Afghanistan as a combat engineer in the United States Army and later worked for nearly 30 years as an engineer with the Georgia Department of Transportation, including on road projects along North Druid Hills in DeKalb County. The resolution designates the bridge carrying State Route 42 over State Route 403 (Interstate 85) in DeKalb County as the Lt. Col. Albert "Butch" S. Welch Jr. Memorial Bridge. It directs the Department of Transportation to put up and maintain signs marking the dedication, and it directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to send copies of the resolution to Welch's family and to the Department of Transportation.

What the bill does

Dedicates the bridge carrying State Route 42 over State Route 403 (Interstate 85) in DeKalb County as the Lt. Col. Albert "Butch" S. Welch Jr. Memorial Bridge.
Directs the Georgia Department of Transportation to erect and maintain signs marking the bridge's new name.
Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to send copies of the resolution to Welch's family and to the Department of Transportation.

Who it affects

The resolution directly affects the Georgia Department of Transportation, which must install and maintain the memorial signage, and the family of Lt. Col. Albert "Butch" S. Welch, Jr., who will receive copies of the honor. Drivers using the DeKalb County bridge will see the new dedication signs.

Why it matters

The change is symbolic rather than regulatory: it does not alter traffic rules, funding, or road design, but it creates a lasting public marker recognizing a Georgia veteran and state engineer, and it commits the Department of Transportation to installing and maintaining the signage.

Key provisions

The resolved clause dedicates the bridge on State Route 42 over State Route 403 (I-85) in DeKalb County as the Lt. Col. Albert "Butch" S. Welch Jr. Memorial Bridge.
A further resolved clause authorizes and directs the Department of Transportation to erect and maintain appropriate signs for the dedication.
A final clause directs the Clerk of the House to distribute copies of the resolution to Welch's family and the Department of Transportation.

From the bill

“the bridge on State Route 42 over State Route 403 (I-85) in DeKalb County is dedicated as the Lt. Col. Albert "Butch" S. Welch Jr. Memorial Bridge”
This is the resolution's core action, naming the DeKalb County bridge in Welch's honor.

“he served as an engineer for nearly 30 years”
Describes Welch's long career as an engineer with the Georgia Department of Transportation.

Status timeline

2026-03-10House Second Readers (House)
2026-03-09House First Readers (House)
2026-03-06House Hopper (House)

Topics

memorial bridge
DeKalb County
veterans
Georgia Department of Transportation
honorary resolutions

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