Moms Lead Fight for Safe Roads

As Signs Go Up, Truck Goes Down

by Woody Jenkins, editor

CENTRAL — Some Central moms are fed up with Central’s antiquated roads, which have resulted in dozens of deaths over the past 20 years.  Now the informal group, led by Gail Lloyd, is taking action.  They are targeting Greenwell Springs Road between Magnolia Bridge and Liberty Road.  Right now, they are looking for property to post signs that say things such as “Dangerous Road Slow Down” or “Speeding on this Road Is Deadly.”

Ironically, on Wednesday morning, Central City News’ Jolice Pro-

vost was taking photos of Gail Lloyd and Roxanne Atkinson putting up the first signs, when Ms. Provost was called away to another news story.  A concrete truck traveling along Greenwell Springs  Road had flipped over and was blocking Frenchtown Road.

Tow trucks and another concrete truck descended on the site to try to lift the heavy vehicle into an upright position.  As traffic on Greenwell Springs Road backed up, workmen tried with little success to put the downed vehicle back on its wheels.

Finally, an elaborate set of harnesses pulled by three vehicles was able to do the job.  The concrete truck was owned by Heck Industries.

The ladies’ sign “Dangerous Road!  Slow Down”  seemed to be answered by the sign on the top of the concrete truck, “Heck Yeah!”

Gail Lloyd said the group has been doing its homework, talking to the Mayor and state legislators and advocating major improvements to Central’s roads.

In the long term, Mrs. Lloyd said the answer is widening roads like Greenwell Springs, building shoulders, and cutting trees.

But in the short term, people need to take action themselves, she said.

“There are only three speed limit signs on Greenwell Springs Road between Magnolia Bridge and Liberty Road,” she said.  “We suggested more speed limit signs to DOTD, but it’s apparently going to take awhile.”

“Meanwhile, people are dying.  We can’t wait!”

So Ms. Lloyd ordered some signs to be made by Central Graphics.  “They thought it was a great idea, and gave us a discount!” she said.

“We called State Police to try to find out just how many people have died on these roads, but they didn’t have any numbers.”

“One of the first property owners to agree to put up a sign was Pete Firmin.  He said that in the past 20 years, there have been more than 50 accidents in front of his home and many fatalities,” she said.

“David Smith said one particular curve has been especially deadly, and all of the fatalities in that spot have been speed or alcohol related.  People come around the curve too fast.  They hit the gravel and then go into the ditch.”

Ms. Lloyd said the fundamental problem is roads that are too narrow with no shoulders, combined with steep drop-offs and trees immediately past the ditch.

“There’s really no room for error on these roads,” she said.

When you combine the antiquated roads with speed or alcohol or both, it is a deadly combination, she said.

Ms. Lloyd said there are two things people can do to help:

• Put warning signs on their property along Central’s dangerous roads.

• Call state legislators such as Sens. Dale Erdey and Bodi White and Reps. Valarie Hodges and Clif Richardson and encourage them to get DOTD to prioritize the widening of Greenwell Springs Road and other narrow, two-lane roads in Central.

Most of the fatalities have been on Greenwell Springs, Sullivan, and Denham roads but Hooper, Wax, and Frenchtown roads all suffer from the same design problems.

Gail Lloyd said people who want to put signs in their yards or help in other ways should call her at 225-223-4626.