County officials are working on a plan to help make a sharp curve on a heavily traveled road safer for motorists.
During Wednesday morning’s meeting of the Carter County Financial Management Committee meeting, members heard from Road Superintendent Roger Colbaugh and committee member Bobbie Gouge-Dietz about a proposal to widen the roadway in what some have called a dangerous curve on Minton Hollow Road.
Gouge-Dietz told the committee during a recent meeting of the Landfill Committee, which she serves as chairwoman of, Landfill Director Benny Lyons brought his concerns regarding that section of Minton Hollow Road to the Landfill Committee’s attention. She said Lyons was concerned with the safety of landfill employees and other motorists in the curve because large vehicles — such as those used to haul materials to and from the landfill — have difficulty navigating the curve.

“Once we know we have a problem the county needs to do something to fix it,” Gouge-Dietz said.
Both Gouge-Dietz and Colbaugh told Financial Management Committee members there have been a number of wrecks in the curve over the years.
Colbaugh said the problem is not just limited to the trucks traveling to and from the landfill. “School buses also have problems going through there,” he said.
The Landfill Committee addressed the issue with the Highway Committee, which in turn asked Colbaugh to look into how the county could improve that section of road.
During Wednesday’s meeting, Colbaugh discussed his findings. The best solution would be to widen the road in that curve to allow more room for large vehicles to navigate the curve without crossing over into oncoming traffic, which is what is happening now, Colbaugh said.
Widening the road would require the county to purchase a piece of property located to the inside of the curve and tearing down a storage building that currently sits there. Colbaugh said he has already researched the property through the Property Assessor’s office and has spoken with the landowner.
“She wants $35,000 for it,” Colbaugh said. “The tax appraisal on the property is $32,400, which is not far off from what she’s asking.”
“We are going to ask the county for the money to purchase the property,” he added.
Colbaugh estimated the cost for the total project would be around $50,000 as long as his crews don’t encounter any problems. He added he hopes the Highway Department can absorb most of the cost for the project outside the purchase of the property.
If the county approves the plan and purchases the property, Colbaugh said the storage building could be demolished over the winter and the property could be readied for work to begin in the Spring. “Benny said he would work with us for disposal of the materials from the storage building,” Colbaugh said.
Before the plan can proceed, funding would have to be approved by the Budget Committee and then the full County Commission.