Carter Infinger
Chairman Bryan County Commission
Bryan County Public Works acts as a catchall department for many important maintenance roles throughout Bryan County. Whether it be working on our fleet of vehicles, maintaining drainage canals, managing the upkeep of facilities, or paving roads.
The Bryan County Commission recently approved the 2023 Road Program, a list of road improvements that are funded by state Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant (LMIG) and TSPLOST funds. The road program focuses on the lowest rated roads or sections of roads in the county and repairs those first. This isn’t patching potholes. In some cases roads are milled to the base and completely rebuilt.
The rating comes from a 2018 study that assessed each county-maintained road and ranked them from those that most needed immediate attention to those that were recently paved and had a longer lifespan.
The work in this year’s LMIG includes resurfacing portions of Clarence Smith Road, Cypress Bay Loop Road, Beulah Church Road, Tony Branch Road, Oracle Parkway, Strathy Hall Road, Mill Hill Road, and shoulder widening along Port Royal Road. Once these projects are completed, other projects may be scoped with any remaining funds.
Those aren’t the only road projects on the horizon. Mill Creek Church Road is under design to be paved in the near future. Design for this road is required because it is a heavily traveled two-lane road with some concerns, such as gravesites, very near the road.
Belfast Keller Road is another area that will see big improvements starting soon. The first improvement, involves two roundabouts at the new Richmond Hill High School entrances. One of these roundabouts will also allow traffic on Cranston Bluff Road easier access to the new four-lane section of Belfast Keller Road that will stretch from the school across the interstate. This portion of the project is estimated to be completed well before the schools estimated fall 2025 opening date.
Public Works has also been instrumental in the speedy rehabilitation of Hendrix Park. While Belfor, a disaster recovery management company, is overseeing the larger projects, Public Works crews are working to improve the grounds and bring all of the park features back into playable conditions. Landscaping, spreading infield clay, and patching areas of the walking track can expedite the overall project to get Hendrix Park back to better than it was before.
These are just a few of the improvements in which Public Works take part in or oversees. The department has a hand in maintaining much of the County’s property and I’m thankful to have these knowledgeable and dedicated employees that keep Bryan County working and in good repair and I’m also thankful that you allow me to serve as your Chairman to help keep these projects moving forward.
Carter Infinger is chairman of the Bryan County Board of Commissioners.