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After storms, Decatur County highway department reports cleanup, 400 North paving and fiber coordination
Summary
Highway Superintendent Tim Ortman reported storm-related damage cleanup, planned asphalt work on 400 North (one-week estimate), a chip‑and‑seal preconstruction meeting, tree trimming on SR 421, and agreements with fiber contractors that include private-utility locates and damage responsibility.
Tim Ortman of the Decatur County highway department updated commissioners on storm-response and near-term road projects. He reported last week’s storm caused washouts, debris jams and plugged pipes; crews are finishing cleanup and responding to resident reports.
Ortman outlined several projects: asphalt and shoulder work on 400 North (estimated one week), a preconstruction meeting with SC Construction for upcoming chip-and-seal work, and tree trimming along SR 421 (contract work trimming to at least 20 feet high and 4 feet outside pavement). He said a contract for trimming began that day and would take about seven days for the section mentioned.
Ortman also described coordination with telecommunications firms: an agreement with Mainstream Fiber includes meeting landowners and using ground-penetrating radar and locators to avoid private utilities (any damages to private facilities would be the contractor’s responsibility). TDS is planning fiber work in the northwest county and will follow similar precautions. He noted routing plans for heavy loads serving a battery energy storage site that aim to use State Road 3 to 400 North inbound and different outbound roads to limit shoulder damage.
Why it matters: The updates affect county roads and public safety after storm damage and involve coordination with private contractors for fiber deployment and heavy construction traffic. Residents along impacted routes may see short-term closures and work.
What’s next: Highway staff will follow up on the unofficial detour on SR 74, schedule preconstruction meetings and continue resident notifications as projects proceed.
