Debris Cleanup Plans in Place, 50 Roads Still Closed
Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer
As cleanup from the Great Storm of 2024 continues, roughly 25 percent of Anderson County remains without electricity and more than 75 percent without internet access.
“Anderson County is still at work 24/7 to take care of its citizens,” said Anderson County Administrator Rusty Burns. “We’re seeing progress, but there is still a lot more that needs to be done.”
Burns said Anderson County is reaching out to the towns and cities to evaluate what they might need, including additional help from the National Guard.
An announcement is forthcoming about the county’s deal with a third-party cleanup crew to dispose of the organic debris left by falling limbs and trees. Citizens will be asked to place the debris on the front of their lot before Oct. 14.
Beginning next week, across Anderson County more than 50 large debris claw trucks will be collecting any trees and branches that are pushed to the side of the road. Teams will divide the county into sections, making frequent pickups. Citizens are asked to push all vegetative debris, toward the road away from mailboxes, power poles, meters, fire hydrants and near vehicles. Do not put trash in these debris piles.
The contract will likely mostly be paid for by federal fundings, with a potential for the county to pay 25 perent of the costs. But Burns said the county is hoping the entire amount will be paid for from outside emergency funding, but even it if it is not, the contract with an outside party will still be cheaper for the county.
Meanwhile, 50 roads and two bridges remain closed due to the storm.
Jonathon Fox, Anderson County Roads and Bridges Manager said one of the two would likely be closed permanently.
“The two closed bridges are on Old Bell Road and Hebron Church Road,” said Fox. “We hope to be able to repair the Hebron Church Road bridge, but the one on Old Bell Road will have to be totally replaced.”
Fox said the county hopes to begin work as soon as possible on the Hebron Road Bridge, but that work will still take several months to complete.
Roads closed Due to Washouts, with no estimate of repair time are: Coachman Drive, Old Bell Road, Hebron Church Road, Pettigrew Road, Harbin Road, Colorado Lane, Gray Road, and Dorthy Trail.
Roads (or parts of these roads) still closed due to power lines in trees (this list is constantly being update as cleanup work goes on): Cherokee Road, Sanders Drive, Lynchburg Cir, Stagecoach Drive, Janice Drive, Farmer Road, Murphy Road, Hartview Cir, Burdette Cir, Hickory Hollow Road, Embassy Drive, Matt Brown Road, Cann Road, Brooks Road, Garrison Road, Garrison Road, Major Road, Lufkin Drive, Broadwell Mill Road, Gregg Shoals Road, Jolly Acres, Carpenter Road, Fagg Road, Milford Road, Lester Ashley Road
Sunset Forest Road, Wildwood Drive, Homewood Street, Hamby Road, Hogg Road, Trotter Road, Ridge Drive, Poinsettia Ct, Mountain View Road, James Road, Sitton Drive, River Road Cir, Shady Lane, Haynie Ave, Holt Drive, Audubon Place, Clarke Stream Dr, Scotts Bridge Road, Shackleburg Road and Kennedy Lane.