Better intersection sparks residents' desire for pavement

The intersection improvement at Route D and Farmington Road is one of Jackson's biggest street projects this year. But just north of the intersection, the concrete gives way to a cheap hybrid surface, one that is splotched with patches and potholes.

Residents of North Farmington Road have taken notice and some have called in complaints to aldermen.

If so much attention could be given to the intersection with widening and addition of turn lanes, they ask, why not give some to the rest of the road?

It gets a little complicated.

The road is made of a material called "chip and seal." Alderwoman Val Tuschhoff said the road was originally built by the county and annexed into the city. It's not asphalt. It's not gravel.

The city doesn't recognize the street as asphalt under its street improvement policy.

"We put patches in the roadway, and it looks like a slice of swiss cheese," said public works director Rodney Bollinger.

It is not yet clear whether the city has an obligation to maintain the street. Bollinger is looking to see whether the city made any agreements.

If not, then the city has the option of not maintaining the road and letting it go back to gravel. Or property owners could help pay for improvements.

"It shouldn't go back to gravel in my mind," Bollinger said. "It's a collector street and will continue to carry more traffic as the northern area develops."

The costliest option, and the best long-term solution for traffic and development, would be to build a concrete street, which would be 38 feet wide and include curbs and gutters.

Bollinger said the road could become asphalt. That would be cheaper, but the road would also be narrower and wouldn't include storm-water control.

But Tuschhoff said no property owners have mentioned those options yet.

"I think the city will do something about it, but I'm not sure what," she said.

bmiller@semissourian.com

243-6635