Council hears plea to fix eroding Sweet Pea Road; staff to survey costs

A Lexington County councilmember described Sweet Pea Road as a long-standing erosion emergency and asked the county to provide a remedy.

"Long story short ... it's a nightmare of a problem," the councilmember said while presenting photos and video that attendees said show fence posts exposed and large gullies forming. Speakers described a 600-acre property where fences are leaning or falling because the road grade has washed away.

Public Works staff said the problem is extensive and that an effective solution would likely require bringing in large quantities of fill, installing engineered storm drainage and regrading — work that is costly and complex. One staff estimate noted a similar project that reached roughly $750,000. "If you want to get anything back close to any grades that was there, I mean, there's nothing to do but come and bring in tons of fill," staff said.

Council members debated options including taking right-of-way by negotiation or condemnation, working with property owners to shift fences, and whether to pave or fully engineer the road. Members cautioned that fixing one road can prompt requests from others; staff estimated the county has many dirt roads with similar erosion issues and that prioritization will be necessary.

The council directed Public Works to survey Sweet Pea Road, develop a design and return with a cost estimate and recommended next steps. No funding or final decision was made at the meeting.