Road Construction Breeds Frustration
Hello readers!
I know it has been a while but here I am writing a column again (finally)! As most of you know I am a very busy lady. I work two part-time jobs and a full-time job as of July 1. Yeah! Affordable health insurance!
I stay on the go and barely have a Sunday to myself which is spent with my boyfriend, couch, laundry and church. I want to get back to writing, as it’s what I love, so let’s say this week is as good of a time to start as any.
I read in this newspaper that the construction on Hwy. 16 that runs from 200 feet above my driveway out to the city limits past Covington Ford is projected to be completed by the end of the month. No one, I mean, no one, is more excited about that than me.
I signed Georgia Department of Transportation paperwork on October 14, 2011 for this project to get underway. I signed a deed to 0.023 acres of my property and easement footage over to the GDOT for the duration of the project that I understood to be completed over a year ago.
Now I know what you’re thinking, expect delays…well I have expected delays and have been entirely too patient throughout this entire project. If you live here, and you have to go down Hwy. 16 for any reason, you have been inconvenienced more than once trying to get to the recreation department or to the Dairy Queen or Ingles.
Chances are that you have been frustrated with detours and one lane traffic and a longer than expected commute to get gas at Circle K more than a few times. …
Well, I have been inconvenienced as well. I live in the last big house before you get to Burney Drive. I have had work crews in and digging up my yard for the better part of two years…YES at least two years. It started out pretty standard, but I had a problem early on where because of the altered traffic a tractor trailer pulled the overhead electrical lines and service out of my house.
I got a phone call at work stating that the city could not fix this problem as the amp and meter box was hanging, midair and needed to be inspected before I could receive that service. Everyone needs electricity, right? So I paid about $1,400 for that repair out of pocket and sought out fault with the road crew, to which I got nowhere. NO one had seen the truck’s plates or company and the road crew wouldn’t take the blame. So out $1,400 I am.
In the last year, my patience has grown thin and issues have escalated quickly, primarily not being able to get into my driveway. But also having to replace certain parts of my vehicle damage and having to call the city of Monticello to light pilot lights on my natural gas more times than I have fingers. I have to thank Richard Martin, with the city of Monticello as he has come every time I called no matter if it was 6 p.m. or 4 a.m. when I arrived home from work.
Just Monday night, I arrived home from my second job, to use my neighbors’ to the right driveway (mine is the only one as of this writing that has not been paved) and as I was making my way into my driveway through the temporary graded mud, I got stuck.
If you rode by Monday night, entertainment you got! My car was submerged into six inches of muddy water and try as I may I couldn’t get it out with boards and maneuvering. Luckily, there was a work crew down near Circle K and they came and pulled me out of my front yard.
At this point I have had it. Don’t get me wrong, I live here, and I thought I knew what I was getting into when the “improvements” started. I want to have my city improved. I love Monticello and I think that the end result will be great. I’m just not sure that it’s been worth my time, stress, money and inconveniences.
So keep in mind when approached by the GDOT or other “improvement” companies that you and your property are the commodity. It will be you that has to endure the time and stress of the large or small projects and plan accordingly.
Needless to say, I’ve learned a lot and will know for the future. I hope that this ends soon, and I can paint my house. I apologize for the eyesore it’s been throughout this venture and look forward to beautiful roads with a house to match!