Land Between the Lakes officials are working to whittle down some of the national recreation area’s more than 470 miles of roadway. LBL Area Supervisor Tina Tilley says the U.S Forest Service’s 'minimum road system' program started in 2010 to ensure sustainability of the road system.
“Do we have more roads out there than what we need there potentially causing resource impact because they’re not being fully maintained,” said Tilley. “And with the economy the way that it is would our dollars be better spent somewhere else.”
Tilley says officials will evaluate about 65 miles of roadway. She says any road which accesses a cemetery or is maintained by the state of Kentucky or Tennessee won’t be changed. Tilley says a series of three public meetings will help in the decision making process.
“I’ll have a better idea of how the public is utilizing the area and that way we can lessen the impact to the general public,” said Tilley.
Meetings will be held at 5:30pm in the following gateway communities:
· Tuesday, July 16, at Lake Barkley State Resort Park Convention Center,
3500 State Park Road, Cadiz, KY
· Friday, July 26, at Stewart County Visitor Center,
117 Visitor Center Lane, Dover, TN
· Tuesday, July 30, at Grand Rivers Senior/Community Center,
155 W. Cumberland Avenue, Grand Rivers, KY
Before any decisions are made in the future, the public will be asked for additional comments.