County Group Tours Problems Roads Across North Escambia

April 24, 2008

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District 5 Escambia County Commissioner Kevin White took to the roads around North Escambia Wednesday to investigate firsthand many of the complaints his office has received over the past several weeks.

White was joined by members of the county’s engineering department and Leroy Wiggins, a member of the county’s Dirt Road Paving Committee. White has participated in the driving tours since taking office three years ago.

NorthEscambia.com caught up with the group on Bratt Road as they visited a home where the resident had complained about water runoff from Bratt Road flooding her property. The resident was not home. But the group surveyed her situation and came to the conclusion that her home was located in a low lying area that would likely flood regardless of whether or not Bratt Road existed.

The next stop was Killam Road north of Highway 4A. While the road runs from Highway 4A to West State Line Road in Alabama, the Escambia County only maintains the road about half of its eight tenths of a mile length, with county maintenance ending just before Buck Smith Road.

The county actually abandoned the northern half of the road several years ago, White said, but they are looking at options to reacquire the entire road.

“There’s water tower there, plus you have mail carriers and school buses trying to get through here,” White said. A Central Water Works water tower is located on the now private section Killam Road.

“Central Water Works has tried unsuccessfully for several years to get the county to resume ownership of that portion of the road. We found it unthinkable that the county would abandon a public road where not only a water tower but also a well and water treatment facility are located,” Lisa Fuller, office supervisor for Central Water Works said.

The portion of the dirt road maintained by the county is wide and relatively smooth, but the northern half is narrow with very deep areas washed away.

Other stops made by the group Wednesday included Roley Road, Occie Phillips Road, Pineville Road, Enon School Road, Arthur Brown Road and Gobbler Road.

Pictured above: District 5 Commissioner Kevin White discusses a homeowner’s flooding problem near Bratt Road with Leroy Wiggins from the county’s Dirt Road Paving Committee. The sand in the ditch behind the men apparently washes from Bratt Road. Pictured below: The area of Killam Road maintained by Escambia County in the top of the photo is smooth; the area in the foreground not maintained by the county is badly washed. This photo was taken at the intersection of Killam Road and Buck Smith Road. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.

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