Taylor County approves no-through-truck restriction and 40 mph limit on Old Coleman Highway after safety hearing

Taylor County Commissioners Court on Sept. 22 approved an order imposing a no-through-truck restriction and reducing the speed limit to 40 mph on Old Coleman Highway (County Road 120) in Precinct 4 after a public hearing in which residents detailed safety concerns.

The court’s action followed multiple public comments describing narrow shoulders, blind curves and vehicle/tractor-trailer encounters. Resident Joe Snow told the court, "I'm concerned with the with the truck traffic. Very concerned." Tom Blackwell described blind corners and dust on nearby dirt roads and said he supported a lower posted speed for safety.

John Hirsch, who identified himself as representing the quarry that supplies aggregate to the area, said the quarry does not operate its own trucking fleet and that company trucks making deliveries are conducting business on the road. "We are in total agreement with whatever we need to do as far as safety, reducing the speed limit, no through truck signs," Hirsch said, and asked the court to confirm that trucks making deliveries to the quarry would be treated as business traffic rather than as 'through' traffic.

Commissioner Statler moved that the court approve an order for a no-through-truck restriction and reduce the speed limit to 40 mph; Commissioner Bertram seconded. The motion passed unanimously, recorded as 4-0. The court said staff and local law enforcement will monitor the road and return if further adjustments are necessary.

County staff also entered letters from residents as exhibits asking the county to post no-through-truck signage and address road safety; the clerk marked the submissions for the record. Resident Leanne Nichols said certain curves could not safely be navigated at 40 mph and flagged a long-term washout near the Potosi water tower, urging the court to account for road geometry and pavement condition when rolling out new signage and enforcement.

The court directed staff to post appropriate signage, consider curve-specific advisory speeds where needed, and coordinate with the sheriff’s office on enforcement options. Commissioners said inmate crews and routine maintenance would be used for localized repairs as scheduling allows.

Provenance: topic introduced SEG 126; public comments and exchanges through SEG 464; motion and vote SEG 872–SEG 923.