BEDFORD – The Lawrence County Commissioners approved a road transfer memorandum of agreement between Lawrence County and the Town of Oolitic on Tuesday morning. This agreement will enable Oolitic to maintain and regulate three specific road segments, allowing the town to seek federal funds for future road improvements.
The transferred road segments include:
- Hoosier Avenue, heading north to its intersection with Lafayette Avenue (580 feet).
- Lafayette Avenue, from Hoosier Avenue heading north to Lafayette Avenue (approximately 760 feet).
- Lafayette Avenue, heading north to its intersection with Hoosier Avenue (502 feet).
In other significant news, Lawrence County Highway Superintendent Brian Sowder announced the commencement of the annual chip and seal road preservation program. This process is expected to last several weeks, contingent on weather conditions.
Sowder assured residents that while roads will not be fully closed, there will be some delays. “There will be signs posted and flaggers on each end of the work present to direct traffic,” Sowder stated, adding that only one lane of travel will be closed at a time. Work typically runs from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., though some days may extend longer.
The chip and seal operations are scheduled to begin tomorrow, Wednesday, June 4, on Grandma Brown Road, and will proceed as weather permits.
Addressing public perception, Superintendent Sowder emphasized the critical importance of chip and seal despite it sometimes being unpopular. “I understand some people do not like chip and seal. However, it’s a necessary process that helps resurface and protect the road to extend the life of the road,” he explained. He also highlighted its cost-effectiveness, noting that materials for chip and seal cost approximately $10,000 per mile, which is significantly lower than paving and amounts to about 2 percent of the cost of laying asphalt.
The following roads are currently scheduled for chip and seal treatment in the coming weeks:
- Grandma Brown Road
- Sandy Acres
- Sherwood Lane
- Copperhead Valley Road
- Deer Run Road
- Earl Road
- Quail Run Road
- Gunsmith Road
- Fort Ritner Road
- Back Creek Road
- Alisa Lane
- Hogman Road
- Diamond Road
- Butterfly Lane
- Guthrie Road
- Crest Motel Road
- Anderson Road
- Arthur Road
“We appreciate the community’s patience while we preserve and maintain the roads of Lawrence County,” Sowder concluded. Residents are encouraged to stay updated on specific road schedules as the work progresses.
In addition, the commissioners appointed Superintendent Sowder as the new Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance officer. In this role, Sowder will be responsible for ensuring the county adheres to the ADA and other accessibility laws. This includes developing and implementing compliance policies, conducting accessibility assessments, providing training, and addressing accessibility issues to ensure equal access for all.
