With construction of the U.S. Highway 82/Greenville Bypass now underway, the Washington County Board of Supervisors engaged in discussions regarding the ensuing detrition of county roads caused by the frequent transport of heavy materials by large trucks.
County road manager Arthur Perry brought the matter to the board’s attention during their regular Monday meeting and inquired as to whether a permit of some sort was required for the “tearing” that has already begun on county roads.
District 4 Supervisor Mala Brooks also previously raised concerns about the impact 18-wheelers and similar transportation hauling construction materials would have on residents who often commute using those same roads, particularly in her district, as well as Districts 2 and 5.
BOS president Carl McGee said he’s anticipating a map to be provided by Mississippi Department of Transportation engineers, which will indicate the roads being heavily utilized while construction is ongoing.
McGee’s aim initially was to meet with MDOT engineers regarding the matter.
“The engineers were not able to meet, but I did have a conversation with the commissioner and we did talk to Mr. Perry about us riding out and making a list of these roads,” he said. “So, when we get the map from the project manager and the project engineer, we can compare where they’re actually driving and planning to travel on and discuss permits, bonds and repairs.”
Brooks said her biggest concern is on VFW and Black Bayou Road, which residents are using as an alternative route to VFW.
“Right now we are driving on Black Bayou Road, but we need to go ahead and pave VFW Road because we have residents there who are going to run into a problem with all these 18-wheelers. We don’t need them on VFW road because those two are parallel to one another,” Brooks said, recommending the road be paved so residents who live in the vicinity will be able to commute with more ease. “They (MDOT) were telling me they’re looking at about 100 dump trucks going back and forth on that road and we’ve got to make sure the citizens out there will be able to get around.”
District 1 Supervisor Lee Gordon agreed MDOT needed to be held accountable for any impact construction has on county roads. He also pointed out the construction of the bypass being a long-term project, implying any resolution would need to be sustainable.
Board attorney Willie Griffin said in such cases, a “before study” has to be conducted by the county’s engineering department for the purpose of identifying the roads that will be used during construction and to describe the condition of those roads.
Although the project is already underway, as McGee pointed out, Griffin advised a study should still be conducted based on the current conditions of the roads.
“We’ve got to have an agreement on what the current conditions of those roads are. That’s what our engineering department should do for us — identify the current condition of those roads because if we have to challenge the state without a before study, we’re not going to be able to do it,” Griffin said. “It’s essential that it be done. Then, we can compel the state to put those roads back in the condition they were at the time the project started and the only way you’re going to be able to do that is if you have those “before and after” studies.”
The BOS were of the consensus that a study should be conducted as they await maps indicating the county roads that will be utilized during construction of the bypass.
