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Athens declares emergency for Joneswood Road slip; repairs expected to take months and cost up to $1 million
Summary
The transportation committee received a briefing on a large landslip that closed Joneswood Road and damaged a house; city engineers described shoring work, possible driven piling and a potential $500,000–$1,000,000 repair bill and asked council to declare an emergency to expedite repairs and bypass standard bidding.
Athens city officials on Monday described an extensive slope failure on Joneswood Road that has closed the road, damaged at least one house and prompted a request for emergency appropriations and expedited contracting.
Transportation committee members were told the slip has removed roughly half the roadway in one section and caused structural collapse of a garage and foundation on an adjacent house. The city and engineering staff said utilities have been shored temporarily and that crews may need to install driven piles and other major stabilization to reopen the route safely. The administration said the repair could cost in the range of $500,000 to $1,000,000 and asked council to declare an emergency so the city can begin work immediately without normal competitive bidding.
Why it matters: Joneswood Road serves residents who currently rely on alternate routes; one nearby resident said she cares for a 95‑year‑old relative and expressed urgent concern about access. The slide also threatens infrastructure at the toe of the slope and has created a potential public‑safety hazard.
Details and resident concerns
Mayor Patterson and city engineers described visible scarping, standing water in failure areas and a collapsed garage foundation on one property. Officials said the slip appears to be localized to the slope and is unlikely to reach Columbus Road, but the affected property may be a total loss. Administration staff said they have plans for temporary utility work, including the possibility of an auxiliary water line, and are working to secure appropriate materials — including piles — quickly to avoid procurement delays.
Neighbor Barbara Stout, whose 95‑year‑old father lives three houses from the slip, told the committee she is “really worried” about access and emergency response times and urged the city to move quickly.
Next steps
The transportation chair said the administration will put an emergency appropriation on the council agenda for next week and recommended suspending rules to allow faster contracting and repair. Committee members also suggested using the repair as an opportunity for traffic‑calming and longer‑term routing changes to reduce heavy‑vehicle wear on neighborhood streets.
Ending
City staff said they will provide a cost estimate and a procurement plan for the emergency repair at next week’s council meeting. The administration warned the project may strain city resources and asked council for flexibility to expedite work and secure needed materials.
