Motorists, be ready to detour. McMinnville Public Works Department has closed a section of Old Smithville Road. The temporarily situation is a necessary one.
“We are having to make necessary repairs to the drainage tiles under the road,” said Public Works assistant director Brad Hennessee.
The area under construction is just past Warren County Livestock near the split with Yager Road. During recent storms, the existing underground drainage tiles collapsed due to heavy rains. A temporary fix was made until the city could perform a permanent one. This requires the street to be ripped up and the tiles replaced.
Hennessee says the street closure has already created public concern.
“Anytime you have to shut down a heavily trafficked area, such as this one, it is going to create problems for people,” said Hennessee. “We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. This work is necessary to replace the drainage tiles under the road.”
Suggested detours: All out-bound traffic on Old Smithville Road that desires to continue on Yager Road should exit at Bybee Branch Road onto Meadowbrook Drive over to Union Hill Road, then return to Yager Road.
All out-bound traffic on Old Smithville Road that desires to continue on Old Smithville Road should exit at Bratten Street over to Fairgrounds Road, then return to Old Smithville Road.
Access to Warren County Livestock outbound on Old Smithville Road will not be interrupted during the project. The drainage tile replacement project will likely continue throughout the remainder of this week, said Hennessee.