Commissioners press for tighter oversight on P Road project and schedule culvert replacements

Smith County commissioners on April 7 pressed the road department for clearer oversight of ongoing road projects after Chair Jim Gwennap said crews encountered unexpected changes in the P Road resurfacing work.

Gwennap told Road Supervisor Mitch Fritz and Assistant Road Supervisor Travis Story he was concerned “there were a lot of surprises on the P Road project,” including variations in how much asphalt was mixed with rock and what material was removed from ditches. Story proposed a process under which commissioners would sign off on each mile before crews apply rock to reduce miscommunication. Commissioners asked for the spreadsheet Story provided to be implemented departmentwide to help track work.

Commissioner Kurt Ifland and Story also discussed specific culvert replacements. Ifland asked about tubes on R Road and 140 Road; Story said those are planned for replacement this year. Fritz reported that the tube on 165 Road between V Road and W Road will need replacement after his inspection, and Story agreed to have staff evaluate a potential installation on 230 Road.

The board also confirmed operational details for compaction: Fritz said crews will water rock while laying it to improve compaction and driveway entrances will be repaired as part of the paving work. The commissioners instructed Story to post signs warning local traffic about increased truck movements on haul routes.