County to reopen gated road after $52,000 in public-works repairs

Warren County's public works director told fiscal court that a multi-year road project at Shaker Mill and Carter Crossing has reached a point where the temporary construction gate can be reopened to traffic.

Josh Moore reported the county widened the roadway (adding one-foot shoulders on each side and a wider passing lane), extended culverts, improved ditching and added high-visibility markers. He said "all that work was done with the road department staff, about $52,000 worth of work with equipment, materials, and labor." Moore and the judge said the change restores a second means of ingress and egress for part of the subdivision and improves emergency access.

Magistrates discussed prior community concern about cut-through traffic during construction but noted the construction phase is complete and that leaving a gate in the middle of the same roadway was a public-safety problem. The court did not require a formal motion to re-open the gate; the public-works update served as the operational notice and the court expressed general support.

Moore said staff coordinated with property owners while doing the work and that additional improvements will continue. The court thanked the road department for completing the in-house effort.