By By Steve Swogetinsky/The Meridian Star
April 11, 2001
QUITMAN For years, County Road 67 has been described by area residents as the worst road in Clarke County. By the end of the year, it is going to become one of the best, official said.
Work is expected to begin within the next couple of weeks to bring three miles of the road east of Quitman, off Highway 511, up to federal standards. But before the work started, Supervisor Tony Fleming wanted to make sure area residents understood what was going on.
Fleming, county engineer Ronnie Clark and others involved in the project, met with about 30 residents who live along County Road 67 Tuesday at the East Quitman Volunteer Fire Department to discuss what was to be done.
They also told residents who to call and how should they have unreasonable problems because of the project.
Magnolia Roadbuilders of Wayne County was the low bidder on the project at $933,000. Eighty percent of the project is being funded by federal highway funds, and the remaining 20 percent will come from the county's State Aid fund.
Mississippi Power and the Chickasawhay Gas District have already moved utilities to make room for the new road. The county has also received right-away easements from the affected property owners.
When work begins, the road will be closed at the south end near Highway 511 for nearly two months so a bridge can be replaced with a poured box culvert.
Once that's done, the contractor will begin rebuilding the road. The old material will be torn out. Ditch work will have to be done, along with erosion preparation.
Different issues were discussed during the meeting covering a variety of questions. Afterward, residents seem pleased.
McKenzie said the road wasn't paved until 1980.
Steve Swogetinsky is regional editor of The Meridian Star. E-mail him atsswogetinsky@themeridianstar.com.