A long-neglected county road is on tap for repaving this year.
Northern District Highway Commissioner Mike Tagert visited Nashville Ferry Road last week and agreed to move the state-aid road up on the priority list.
“We estimate, it”s right at 20 years old,” Tagert said, standing outside of the Eka Chemicals plant.
The plant”s entrance faces Nashville Ferry Road, and the road has not been repaved since it was created. The road was constructed in the early ”90s as part of the economic development plan for Eka, Tagert noted.
“That road has deteriorated immensely over the years,” District 4 Supervisor Jeff Smith said.
Smith has received complaints about the road from the company and the community members.
“Obviously, there”s an industrial need to support (Eka),” Tagert said.
“I think it”s only right that we, as a county government, do what we can to see that that happens,” Smith said. “That plant is an important part of our community. It”s a strong tax base.”
According to Greg Andrews, Lowndes County tax assessor/collector, Eka pays about $950,000, easily putting the company in the top 10 taxpayers for the county.
“That”s the first time since I”ve been on the board a highway commissioner has come out to look at a problem, at our request,” said District 1 Supervisor and Board President Harry Sanders.
Plans are to pave 4.2 miles of the road, from Eka Chemicals to Highway 69. With current fuel costs, the road could cost around $900,000 to repave, Sanders estimated.
Smith said this morning he received a letter from Tagert saying bids would go out on the project no later than May.
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