Tempers Flare Over The Bridges Of Dekalb County

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By Andrew Steele, Ward Norris

Story Published: Nov 19, 2009 at 5:09 PM CDT

Story Updated: Nov 19, 2009 at 9:36 PM CDT

In an emotionally charged meeting in Smithville Wednesday night, Dekalb County manufacturing, tourism, school busses, and commerce of Smithville were all represented as Smithville seems to be inexorably headed towards being cut off as the citizens of DeKalb County seemed to be not getting an answer as to whether or not their bridges were safe and when they’d be repaired.

Director of Dekalb County Schools, Mark Willoughby, indicated that he thought his busses might already be outlawed from crossing the Hurricane Bridge due to exessive weight load.
 
One gentleman who helped upgrade the bridges 30 years ago expressed concern about his personal observation of the deck actually coming apart on Hurricaine Bridge.
 
Several expressed frustration at the apparent lack of performance by their elected officials.
 
Several truckers are already adding over a hundred miles per load by taking the non-bridge routes--for instance going to Cookeville via Alexandria. As one business owner commented, this adds up over the course of a month.
 
Jack Barton, a Dekalb County Commissioner, expressed concern about loss of commerce.
 
County Mayor, Mike Foster, gave a summary statement of the situation and issued the call to move forward.
 
Smithville will be a focal point of news as the forthcoming decisions will affect both Smithville, and DeKalb County almost immediately.

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