Ky. county declares roads in 'state of emergency' because of coal-truck traffic

Members of the governing body of Pike County, Kentucky, in the heart of the Central Appalachian coalfield, voted unanimously this week to declare a state of emergency on two state highways they say were damaged by coal trucks, reports Chris Anderson of the Appalachian News Express in Pikeville. (Google map)

Magistrates of the county's Fiscal Court say the high volume of coal-truck traffic is a traffic hazard on the narrow, winding roads. The fiscal court approved an earlier emergency declaration on a road after a fatal accident there. "There are just so many coal trucks on those roads and the trucks are too big for the roads," Magistrate Hilman Dotson said.

Dotson said the emergency declaration could get both roads in the state's six-year road plan for improvements. Kentucky Transportation Cabinet spokesman Joe Stanley told the magistrates that this is a typical problem on rural secondary roads: "A coal company will move in and within a month’s time, on these little roads, they’ll destroy them." He said the cabinet has tried to work with coal companies to maintain roads, but they've "not had any luck."

Anderson reports the magistrates highly praised coal companies during the meeting, despite complaining about the damage they cause. One suggested the fiscal court support a partnership with companies for a "Coal to Roads" program that would allow companies to turn over mine access roads for county use when mining is complete.

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