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Company warns new high school will increase traffic on Ed Ward Road; county to study road termination option
Summary
Modern Dispersions South Inc. asked Ben Hill County to close Ed Ward Road to through traffic, citing safety concerns tied to a planned Fitzgerald High School and speeding/rail-crossing violations; county staff recommended cutting the road and will follow up.
Chairman Steve Taylor told the Ben Hill County commissioners that he had received a letter from the president of Modern Dispersions South Inc. requesting that Ed Ward Road be closed to through traffic. The letter, cited in the workshop on Jan. 22, said construction of a new Fitzgerald High School nearby will substantially increase traffic on Ed Ward Road and create safety risks to company operations and public travel; it also raised concerns about speeding and drivers disregarding rail-crossing signs.
Commissioners discussed the safety risks tied to increased school traffic and whether a full closure or other traffic-control measures are appropriate. County Manager Michael Dinnerman recommended physically terminating ("cutting") the road rather than a full closure to through traffic and was asked to follow up on feasibility and next steps.
The minutes record discussion and a staff follow-up request; no formal vote, ordinance or closure order was recorded at the workshop.
