Bell County approves no-through-trucks route on Firefly Road to protect pavement

Bell County Commissioners on July 22 approved a no-through-trucks route on Firefly Road in Precinct 4 to limit heavy quarry traffic and preserve the road surface, county engineer staff said.

County engineering presented the proposal and said heavy loads from nearby quarries have been using the route and stressing the pavement. "We had discussed the problems with the maintenance of the road and the quarries that seem to be using this route to put their heavy loads on it," the county engineer said during his presentation. He recommended signs at route ends and possibly an intermediate sign for the long stretch.

The court approved the restriction by voice vote after discussion about alternate truck routes and enforcement. The engineer stated that trucks making local stops, school buses and emergency vehicles would be exempt and that the county’s standard court order sets a $200 fine for a violation: "It's a $200 fine if you're caught with a violation," the engineer said.

Commissioners pressed staff on enforcement. One commissioner noted the difficulty of relying on signs alone and urged that the sheriff and constables be notified when signs are installed so drivers learn the new restriction. The engineer identified alternative county and FM routes that can route trucks back toward Florence but acknowledged some operators use mapping services and may continue to travel the shorter path unless enforcement is visible.

What the order does and does not do

- Applies only to through trucks; local deliveries and stops are allowed. - Sets a $200 fine for violations (per the county's standard order). - Exempts school buses and emergency vehicles.

Next steps

County Engineering will install signage at the described locations and coordinate notification to the sheriff and constables for initial enforcement; staff listed an action to report back on signage installation and enforcement activity.