Residents urge continued closure of County Road 374 to haul trucks; commissioners vote to bar through truck traffic on segment

Limestone County commissioners on a regular meeting day heard a packed public hearing on County Road 374 and voted to prohibit through truck traffic on the portion discussed after residents described heavy gravel‑hauler traffic, vehicle damage and dust problems.

At the hearing a resident who said she moved to the area about a decade ago told the court the road ‘‘was very peaceful’’ until new pit entrances created a ‘‘thunderous roar of gravel haulers’’ and that barricades had been removed, allowing trucks to resume using the route. She said residents had been told the road might be repaved but warned that ‘‘it won't get repaved if the gravel haulers keep screwing it up.’'

Brandon McQuaise, who said he spoke at the prior meeting, told commissioners that residents prefer the road remain closed to through truck traffic, saying the closure reduced dust and safety problems around school bus routes and private driveways. ‘‘We would like to continue seeing [the road] closed to truck traffic,’’ McQuaise said.

Commissioners acknowledged competing interests: several speakers representing haulers and contractors said rerouting would add roughly four miles to their travel and raise operating costs. One contractor said the additional mileage would affect bids and prices for jobs. Commissioners and staff discussed a formal road‑use agreement to require accountability and repairs by users that damage county roads.

After hearing multiple residents request continued closure until a durable low‑dust surface or a road‑use agreement is in place, a commissioner moved to prohibit through truck traffic on the identified portion of County Road 374. The motion was seconded and the court voted in favor; the presiding official announced the motion passed.

Commissioners said they will revisit signage and enforcement, and explore a road‑use agreement that would set accountability and maintenance obligations for haulers. The court asked staff to clarify the exact legal description and to return with recommended signage and enforcement options at a future meeting.

The action followed a formal public hearing and concluded with a court vote to prohibit through truck traffic on the cited segment of LCR 374; the court did not set a reopening date and listed enforcement and agreement details as follow‑up items.