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Residents say Millstone Road hazards and storm damage threaten school bus safety in Carroll County
Summary
Multiple residents told county leaders that fallen trees, deep ruts and branches on Millstone and nearby roads created ongoing safety risks for school buses and drivers after a recent storm; speakers said the county documented costs for repairs but has not yet been reimbursed.
Several Carroll County residents urged county leaders during public comment to clear storm damage and repair long-standing hazards on Millstone Road and nearby routes, saying branches and deep washouts are posing an immediate danger to school buses and drivers.
Clyde, a Carroll County resident, described branches “literally waiting to fall” on a hillside school bus route and said a deep hole on an S-curve forces drivers off the pavement. “Somebody's gonna get hurt or killed,” Clyde said. He added that he had cut a branch himself to prevent an immediate collision and described the road as “a disgrace.”
The residents’ remarks focused on a stretch of Millstone Road from Harrison to Bowie and the Sandy Level and Heritage areas. Speakers said heavy branch and tree damage from a recent storm left debris on banks near the road and increased the risk to bus passengers and drivers. Clyde said the problem has persisted for years and noted prior damage going back “4 years ago,” and that little or no work had been done after recent storms.
One speaker asked whether the county had received federal funding for road repairs related to the storm; according to public comments, the county has documented repair costs but had not yet been reimbursed. A resident suggested parts of Carroll County could meet criteria for a state or federal disaster declaration, which could affect funding eligibility.
Residents pressed for specific road fixes, including clearing overhanging branches, repairing an S-curve washout and installing a culvert between Bowie and Sandy Level to address recurring washboard and valleying during heavy rains. Commenters repeatedly emphasized that the stretch is on an established school bus route.
The remarks were made during the public comment portion of the meeting; no formal motion or vote on repairs was recorded in the transcript. The transcript shows county staff or officials acknowledged documentation of storm-related costs but did not provide a timetable for repairs or confirmation of funding approval.
Speakers asked whether VDOT (Virginia Department of Transportation) had been contacted about hazardous trees and road conditions; a resident said he had called VDOT before Easter to request work. The transcript does not record a formal county direction to VDOT or a commitment to an immediate repair schedule.
If county leaders choose to seek state or federal reimbursement, that process could require formal damage reporting and possible declaration by the governor or the federal government; those steps were discussed by residents as possible pathways but were not recorded as formal actions by the governing body during the meeting.
Residents requesting rapid clearing and repair said the intent was to reduce risk to schoolchildren and motorists; speakers asked county leaders to prioritize the corridor in upcoming maintenance planning.
No decision or formal directive to staff was captured in the transcript; comments and residents’ requests were recorded as public input only.
