 |
||||||||
 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
Relief in sight for beat up road
By JEFFREY S. SOLOCHEK, Times Staff Writer Jeannine Hatcherson is fed up with the bumpy, cracking, crumbling, wavy and sometimes flooded conditions she endures daily on Grove Road west of Brooksville.
"It's just a very, very dangerous road," Hatcherson said, "and it didn't used to be." She blamed trucks that used Grove as a haul route during construction of the Suncoast Parkway and said the people who regularly drive the road expected it would be repaired once the parkway was completed. More than a year after the parkway opened, though, that hasn't happened. County Administrator Richard Radacky said Smith and Co., the contractor that was building the parkway alongside Grove, once promised to return the road to its original condition "or better." But the company reneged, Radacky said. Smith since has sued the state Turnpike District amid problems with the project. Hatcherson pleaded for some relief, and it seems likely that help is on the way. Officials from the county and the Turnpike District intend to meet the week of July 8 to discuss how to fix the road, which is slated to become part of a detour route when improvements to nearby Sunshine Grove Road begin. "We knew that (Smith) had an agreement to restore Grove Road. We're certainly aware of what was happening," said Joanne Hurley, community relations manager for the Suncoast Parkway. "The turnpike does intend to be part of the solution to the problem." Gregg Sutton, assistant county engineer, said the county did not want to take the road back for regular maintenance until the contractor or the state repairs it. The county had planned to wait until the Suncoast bike trail is done before surveying all affected roads and pressing for repairs. Many roads besides Grove have suffered at the wheels of heavy loads during parkway construction, Sutton said. Commissioners instead suggested that the administration speed the work for Grove Road and any others no longer used for hauling. "I would feel more comfortable if we started on those roads," said Nancy Robinson, commission chairwoman Sutton said he would move the efforts along "post haste," as the board directed. The Turnpike District wants to maintain friendly relations with the county, Hurley said, and will do anything it can to help. "We've met with the county preliminarily on this issue," she said. "We're glad to meet with them again." Commissioner Chris Kingsley said he also will press the county Public Works Department to speed along the repaving of Grove Road as part of planned Sunshine Grove Road improvements. He and Commissioner Mary Aiken noted that paving and drainage improvements for Grove Road were part of the county's contract with Tampa Bay Engineering to widen Sunshine Grove. Grove otherwise is on next year's list of residential road repaving projects. Sutton said the road, which is about 6 feet narrower than most residential roads, definitely needs attention. "As far as paved roads go, there may be a few worse, but none come to mind," he said after driving down Grove Road on Wednesday. Hatcherson agreed, and looked forward to whatever fixes the state and county bring. "It's dangerous even if you're just getting your mail," she said. "I've had people hit the edge, where it's all broken, and they end up in your front yard." -- Jeffrey S. Solochek covers Hernando County government and can be reached at 754-6115. Send e-mail to solochek@sptimes.com.
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111 
|
|
