Attention drivers: if your daily commute takes you through Claude Simmons Road, you're going to want to plan for some delays starting July 31. The Johnson City Public Works department has begun a paving project that will affect the stretch between Knob Creek Road and Strawberry Field Drive. Originally milled, the road will now see its surface smoothed and strengthened – an essential piece of maintenance in the life of any well-traveled path. The work is scheduled to disrupt daily traffic with temporary lane closures from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and is expected to wrap by August 1, assuming all goes according to plan.
The city anticipates that this may cause some inconvenience for those who cannot detour around the area. Describing the closures, Johnson City's official announcement advised motorists to "expect delays" and to exercise caution while passing through the construction zone. Speed limits will be posted and are there for everyone's protection – from the construction workers with their backs turned, vulnerable while they focus on the task at hand, to the daily commuter eager to get home.
While some may find the short-term inconvenience of the construction frustrating, the long-term benefits of having a newly paved road cannot be underestimated. The smooth surface will lend itself to a more pleasant driving experience and, more importantly, a safer one. Office holders from the local government urge commuters to respect closure times; such acts of civic responsibility enable city workers to complete their work efficiently and without incident.
Anyone planning to use Claude Simmons Road during the indicated times should allow for extra travel time or consider alternative routes. While city workers will be toiling under the summer sun, reapplying the road's skin, drivers observing the speed limits make it less likely that accidents will interrupt the proceedings.
