Motorists and residents along Mack Smith Road are marking their independence a few days early this year, celebrating freedom from six months of roadblocks and detours.
“The torn up road from the West Chickamauga sewer project in the area of North Avenue was leveled about two weeks ago,” Catoosa Public Works Director Olney Meadows said. “The contractor, at its expense, had a thinner level of material put down on the area north of Gateway Baptist Church and south of Steele Road.”
So the road is now open, but he said it is not in its final condition yet. More paving is planned.
“More leveling of Mack Smith Road will be needed before the 2.1-mile stretch of the road is paved later this year with Local Assistance Road Program funds,” Mr. Meadows said. “We will be paving when the contract is signed and released by the state.”
Fort Oglethorpe Streets Director Jeff Long said he, Mayor Ronnie Cobb, building official Mark Lindsay, Catoosa Finance Officer Carl Henson Jr. and Mr. Meadows met with East Tennessee Grading earlier this month.
“There was a certain amount of money specified in the sewer contract to repair Mack Smith Road, but not enough for everything,” Mr. Long said. “We were informed there was almost no chance the Catoosa Public Works Authority Board would agree to supply more funding.”
Bobby Riddle, a resident on nearly Elizabeth Street, said he’s glad he is finally able to go down Mack Smith without a detour, but it is a rough route.
“The shape the area of the road north of Gateway Baptist Church is pathetic,” he said. “When it rains, it will wash out. It’s awful.
“What was so irritating during this detour period was for residents in this area to go out from the subdivision in one direction, but have to use another route coming back,” he said. “Some were receiving tickets from law enforcement for violating the law by ignoring the road closed signs. There was no way to get home without going around those signs.”
Mr. Meadows said the cleanup in the former work project area is continuing.
The sewer project contractor will be removing debris this week in the area of Mack Smith Road and May Avenue.
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