Marble Hill businesses partner with city to repair damaged Englehart Lane
FOX23 News at 9 p.m
MARBLE HILL, Mo. (KBSI) — Repairs are underway on a damaged section of Englehart Lane in Marble Hill after local businesses partnered with the city to help address worsening road conditions caused by heavy traffic over the past several months.
Marble Hill Ready-Mix and MLR Concrete stepped forward with a proposal to help repair portions of the roadway after city leaders said deteriorating conditions created hazardous driving concerns for residents and travelers.
Under the agreement, the city will purchase the concrete while the companies provide labor for the project at no cost.
“We are greatly appreciative of Marble Hill Ready-Mix and Eddie Cook Enterprises for their willingness to partner with us,” Mayor Trey Wiginton said in a statement. “Their community-minded support will help us address a pressing infrastructure issue quickly and responsibly.”
According to business owners Eddie Cook and Rylan Matthews, the roadway had already been in poor condition before traffic from multiple construction and hauling projects added further wear over recent months.
“This road wasn’t too good to start with,” Cook said. “It just got worse and worse over the last three months.”
The current repairs will focus on the most damaged portion of the roadway near the hill rather than the entire stretch of Englehart Lane.
With company trucks regularly using the roadway as a primary entrance to the business, Cook said they wanted to help improve conditions for everyone traveling through the area.
‘Community partnerships like this help us address important infrastructure issues quickly,’ Wiginton said.
“We offered when we approached the city about fixing it, and we told them if they would buy the concrete, we would just sell it to them at cost,” Cook said. “Since our trucks are running up and down this and that is our main in and out … we would do the labor for free.”
Wiginton called the repairs an important step toward improving safety for residents and drivers who use the roadway daily.
Public Works crews have already begun marking the right-of-way and locating underground utilities ahead of construction. Englehart Lane will remain closed between Slaybaugh Street and Milford Street until repairs are completed.
Cook said he hopes drivers will be able to use the repaired portion of the roadway within about a week.
“We’re trying to help them out, help us help them,” Cook said.
