By Daniel L. Bamberg Daniel@Centrevillepress.com
Roadwork has become one of the most frequently discussed items during the Bibb County Commission Meetings recently. With several county roads in desperate need of attention, the weather hasn’t been helping the cause. Meanwhile, Six Mile and Centreville residents living near or on Deer Creek Road seem to be getting the worst of this desperate situation.
Several residents of the area have been frustrated and alarmed by a section of Deer Creek Road, which has collapsed. The area of concern is on the eastern most portion of the two-part road. The first portion, which begins in Six Mile, collapsed in September of last year after weeks of steady rainfall. Two vehicles plunged into a creek as the road gave way following a culvert compromised by water. That area has been repaired for now. Though there have been some citizens who have expressed their dissatisfaction with what they feel was a “patch over” job. “There aren’t any headwalls on either side of the culvert. Enough rain is going to cause the very same thing to happen. There is already some road deterioration. I’ve got 13 years experience with road work and that thing is not going to hold up,” said Jamie Belcher, a resident of Six Mile. Belcher’s wife makes her daily commute through a portion of Deer Creek Road.
Several other spots of Deer Creek Road appear to be experiencing problems with the rain, but none worst than the second section which continues after crossing Antioch Road in Centreville. The culvert, which rests below the new area of major concern, has been pinched and bent by broken road and debris from the creek. A section of road has completely collapsed. Upon looking closer one will notice dirt hollowed out by weather beneath the existing roadway.
According to the district’s County Commissioner Al Green a barricade was placed there which someone stole not long after. Following the theft, county workers taped off the collapsed area, but cars can still pass on the opposite side of the road. Many question whether the active side needs to be open at all.
“If we have to we will close the road. Right now it appears to be safe enough to pass on one side, but if it becomes unsafe we will do all we need to do,” said Commissioner Green.
Closing the road is even more frustrating to those who live on or near Deer Creek Road. Citizens explained that the alternate route to or through Centreville would be Hill Creek Road. This is a dirt road, which runs between Deer Creek Road and Highway 82. The road has been destroyed by rainfall. Normal tires seem to have a serious problem with maintaining traction, and in some areas muddy ruts have been exposed due to weather and traffic. That’s not the worst problem on Hill Creek Road, however. About mid-way down the road is sliding off into the gully one piece at a time. The County’s only present solution has been to pile crushed coal waste on the side where the road is failing. According to Commissioner Green this has been done in order to keep people from sliding off. During an investigation, this reporter fell into the gully on foot while walking along the edge. A foot-sized portion of the road gave way. Upon further investigation a single human step with the slightest amount of normal pressure towards the ground could cause the edge of the road to fail.
There is another alternate route for these residents but that would cause them to travel some extra 6 miles out of the way, before coming onto Highway 82. That route would also tack an additional 3 to 4 miles onto the Highway 82 drive. Commuters would be traveling an average of 20 miles further each day and 100 miles more weekly.
“I apologize to the people. I know what is going on is not a good situation. We are having road problems all over. The weather isn’t allowing us to do all that is necessary. Some of these things can be fixed but until the weather lets up it will just going to happen again. Our goal is to keep these roads as safe as we can,” said Green.
Green also mentioned that he and the county were currently working on trying to get federal help with some of the road problems due to the weather. Several other counties recently received such funds for the same problem. “Our chance of getting this money might not be great but I’d rather submit a request and be denied than be denied because we didn’t submit,” Green concluded.
Since publishing this story gravel has been placed in areas of concern along these roads, the culvert has been replaced, and proper safety precautions have been put in place.
No comments:
Post a Comment