Bad Roads Create Problems in Bullock Co.

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By Jessica Gertler

Story Created: Feb 27, 2012 at 6:04 PM CDT

Story Updated: Feb 27, 2012 at 6:42 PM CDT

From the CBS 8 Troy Newsroom-- Bad roads in Bullock County has a local commissioner looking for answers and turning to the state for help. But can a solution be reached on what has been a rough road to finding a solution?

Bullock County Commissioner Alonza Ellis took us around his district to show us how bad the roads have become, and he's right. These roads have become a problem.

"You can tell where we are just putting dirt on the road," Ellis says.

Ellis says it's a quick fix to a never-ending problem.

"The road was deteriorating so bad. It was sinking and making ruts so deep," Ellis says. "I feel the pain of the citizens. They deserve better, but I am doing the best I can with the funding we have."

Ellis says it's not only the roads that are getting worse. He says the bridges on County Road 177 can't even hold the weight of a school bus, and for three years, he says parents are having to take and pick up their children at this church.

"It's just extra trips back and forth and with the cost of gas, it's really an inconvenience and time and money," says Willie Cottrell who takes his grandchildren to school.

And down the road, folks like Rachel Owens have nicknamed County Road 185  "Pot Hole Road."

"This is really one of the worst roads we've ever driven on," says Owens.

Campbell Forrer lives on the road and says just a few years back, it was paved, but when the road continued to fall apart, dirt has become the solution.

"I wish they had the money to pave the road, and do a good job with it, but I don't see that happening. We just don't have the money in this county," says Forrer.

While Ellis can agree that the money isn't there, he refusing to give up.

"Times are bad everywhere right now, but we just got to pray about it, and hopefully we can get some relief from the state," he says.

Ellis says he can't fight this battle alone, and he needs residents to send e-mails and letters to their state representatives asking for help to fix the roads.

Ellis says if the roads and bridges continue to deteriorate, he's afraid it will hurt the industry around the county, because semi-trucks won't be able to travel on them.
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