Bid approved for Hwy. 29 turn lanes

County commissioners approved a bid from Pittman Construction Company Nov. 1 for $249,221 for the construction of the turn lanes at the intersection just north of Ingles. The Pittman bid was lower than a proposal by ER Snell Contractor to do the work for $286,979.

The engineering firm of Moreland Altobelli reviewed the bids and recommended Pittman Construction for the project.

Commissioner Mike Youngblood has long pushed for the turn lanes. He said he is pleased to see the road project move forward, which should ease congestion at the intersection.

“This is probably the busiest intersection in the county,” said Youngblood, noting that motorists on Glenn Carrie Road face long morning waits to turn onto Hwy. 29.

In a separate matter, the commissioners received an assessment from the road department concerning road striping needs. The department estimated a $200,000 total cost of striping for all roads that need it. County commissioners agreed to discuss this further at a future meeting.

In other matters Nov. 1, the commissioners approved a proclamation recognizing Nov. 7 as Retired Educators Day. They denied a request by Tina Rogers, representing her mother, Louise Martin, to rezone 2.99 acres from R-R to R-1 to subdivide two existing homes on the Moriah Church Road property.

Two neighbors spoke against the proposal, saying the rezoning would set a bad precedent and open the door for overcrowding in the area. The second home is currently allowed on the property due to a medical hardship. So, the denial of the permanent change to the zoning does not affect the medical hardship.

The house can remain on the property as long as there’s a medical hardship. The board approved a request by Bobby and Pam Kyle to rezone 26.28 acres on Jot Em Down Road from A-1 to A-2. They also approved a request by Richard Garrett to rezone 40.2 acres from R-1 back to A-2 on Hwy. 98 East. The commissioners also approved Joel David Rogers as a shift supervisor for the Madison County EMS.