How about bringing the shoulders of all roads in the county up to specification? We have a lot of "tank traps" out there now.

Shoulder improvements noted, thank you.

Anyone else have a suggestion(s)?

It would greatly enhance the appearance of Roane County's tree- and vegetation-lined roads as well as reduce pollution of our groundwater and improve the health of roadside woods.

The mangling machine sometimes used to cut back trees leaves us with diseased and downright ugly roadside trees, or what is left of them. People have noted ((link...)) that our roadsides are hideous where those tree-killing machines are used.

Aren't we trying to attract tourists, businesses, and jobs instead of repelling them?

As I have stated before ((link...)):

One of the first things one notices when visiting Roane County is the extreme ugliness of too many of our roads. The roadside trees are only too often hacked in half, mangled and brown and sick-looking.

Country lanes elsewhere are charming and lovely. Where that terrible machine has been looks more like a road in Mordor or some war zone.

Gnashing at the trees like that leaves them disfigured, mutilated, and susceptible to diseases and pests.

Other woodland jurisdictions can manage nicely without this bizarre, ignorant, and unaesthetic practice. Why not Roane County?

Another improvement would be to stop the use of water-polluting herbicides on roadside vegetation. These are bad not only for the weeds but for people and wildlife too. And, the resulting look is extremely unattractive.

-- OneTahiti

Drive around Roane County in Google StreetView. The amount of litter is embarrassing. For example, look at Eagle Furnace Road. The Smith place there is clear of litter, but much of the rest is litter-strewn.

Tourists and businesses might be more attracted to Roane County if we kept it clean.

-- OneTahiti

It is always difficult to say what road projects need to be undertaken. I can think of areas I would like to see linked in a more efficient and safe way. However, many times that involves taking farmland or scenic rural areas. That is not something that is desirable. I would like to see the Roane County portion of Oak Ridge have a more direct route to Old Harriman Hwy, Poplar Creek/Mahoney Rd (Hartland Est. area). Westshore Estates/Bowman Bend to the south side of Rockwood. SOR to the eastern part of the county. I know you can get from point a to b now, but little straighter and/or wider road would be helpful.

1. Pave the roads so folks can drive through Roane County and drink a cup of coffee without getting burned.

2. Need a bridge that connects Hwy 58S to Rockwood Hwy 27. This will promote residential and business growth in areas of the county that have the most valuable and attractive lake resources.

Leave out items 3-5 and give that money to our broke down decrepit school system. Perhaps we can educate our future generation to overcome our failures and make something out of this place.

Ok...After riding around and looking at our roads i have to wonder who did the paving work? Roads are pitting and pot holing way too early in their lifespan. I think our biggest road project should be to develop a set of specifications that contractors have to meet and an inspection system that raps their knuckles when they perform substandard work. Shoddy workmanship is too evident around Roane County.