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Watertown-area farmers warn Nea Road bridge rating blocks farm equipment, deliveries
Summary
Residents Michael and Tiffany Barrett told the Wilson County Road Commission the Nea Road bridge is rated at 4 tons for a single axle, preventing dually pickups, school buses and heavy farm equipment from using the dead‑end road that serves four farms; commissioners asked staff to follow up with the state.
Michael Barrett, speaking for several farms on Nea Road, said a May/June assessment rated the local bridge at 4 tons for a single axle and detailed problems getting agricultural equipment, delivery trucks and concrete trucks across the structure.
"It's currently, it was just it was just assessed this May or June...It's currently... rated at 4 tons for a 2 axle vehicle," Barrett said, and added that the road is a dead end serving four farms, including a neighbor with a 130‑acre farm. He said the posting prevents standard dually pickups and many service vehicles from crossing, complicating farm operations and deliveries.
Commissioners and staff acknowledged the access problem and noted a county sheet and state postings appeared to conflict. Staff agreed to contact state bridge officials to reconcile the posted tonnage and report back to the commission next month. The commission discussed options including asking the state whether temporary measures or property acquisition for an alternate crossing were feasible, but no formal capital project was approved at the meeting.
