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Resident urges fixes to potholes, turning lanes and drainage; city says $1.438M resurfacing program underway
Summary
Mark Hughes, a resident, told the East Ridge City Council on June 22 that potholes, poor patching and unsafe merge areas are causing frequent damage and near‑misses; staff said a city resurfacing program began the same day with $1,438,000 budgeted.
Mark Hughes, a resident who signed up to speak at the June 22 East Ridge City Council meeting, urged the council to fix multiple streets around the city and to address traffic safety where drivers must merge without turning lanes.
“If you look up, 911 call and all, I looked it up… it’s like the Indy 500 out here,” Hughes said, describing frequent collisions and high travel speeds near the Walmart area and multiple deep square potholes on Greens Lake Road and John Ross Road. He also raised concerns about drainage entering the city from the Chattanooga side and about uneven, poorly tamped patches that he said damage vehicles.
City Manager David Miller responded that the city has not had a continuous resurfacing program in the recent past but that work began the day of the meeting. “This year, we're looking at $1,438,000 worth of resurfacing,” Miller said, outlining a planned sequence of work through northwest, southwest, Thomas, Marlborough and hospital areas and estimating the program could take three to four weeks, weather permitting. Miller confirmed that Scruggs Road is on the resurfacing list and that John Ross is scheduled to be repaved this year.
Public works staff later told the council that a resurfacing contract for John Ross Road has been awarded; the contract amount exceeded the original budget and staff said the balance will be funded from state street aid and included in the FY 2026 budget. Council members noted the long history of planning for John Ross resurfacing and expressed a desire to move forward.
Miller also provided a construction update on Venue 1921, the city’s multipurpose building behind city hall and the community center: stone veneer work is roughly 95% complete, roof decking is done and next steps include finishing the main roof, electrical work and interior walls. He said the contractor would proceed with roofing and interior work next week.
Finally, Miller said Germantown Road at I‑24 will be closed to through traffic starting at 9:00 a.m. Friday and reopening at 6:00 a.m. on Monday (the 30th, as presented) and described detours: truck traffic will use Moore Road while other vehicles are detoured via Germantown, Fountain and Belvoir. Staff asked drivers to follow posted detours and noted last weekend’s closure proceeded without major issues.
The council thanked Hughes for bringing issues forward and encouraged residents to report road problems to staff; Miller said staff will follow up on specific locations Hughes identified. The meeting concluded after the council considered other calendar and planning items.
