Quarry will hurt roads, devalue area property

The proposed Covington quarry site plan at Cross Hollow Road and Old Wire Road is threatening to cause excessive traffic and damage to our roads. A representative of Anchor Stone, who is the out-of-state company proposing this plan, has said approving the quarry would mean an average of about 50 trucks passing along Old Wire Road (one direction) each day.

To get from the quarry to the main road, the proposed route takes these trucks through four school zones and by areas where children often play outside. There have been no traffic studies done, and no plan to repair any damage to potholes and dirt roads as these massive trucks continuously erode our roads. When the Red Dirt Mine initially opened, the company promised to improve the roads, but due to the volume and weight of the trucks that are already passing through this area on a regular basis, the conditions have worsened severely. If this quarry is approved, as construction in this area increases, not only will traffic increase, but dust from the dirt roads will become an enormous problem as well.

My family’s property value as well as all the surrounding neighbors’ property will plummet and our livestock could suffer as well. This decision will have a lasting impact on the quality of our roads, air and water for decades to come.

Please help us stop the quarry and save our community. STEVEN EDSTER Pea Ridge