By Tabitha Evans Moore | EDITOR & PUBLISHER
LYNCHBURG, Tenn. — It’s been the talk of social media and around Woodard’s breakfast tables for weeks, and on Monday night members of the Silicon Ranch team overseeing the construction of the solar farm along Highway 55 in between Cumberland Springs and Cobb Hollow addressed the Metro Council about local resident complaints about muddy and dangerous road conditions along Cumberland Springs, Cobb Hollow, Raysville, and other Moore County roads.
The Council devoted much of its meeting to the subject with council members and county officials pressing developers on road safety issues tied to mud, debris, and a recent uptick in crashes along Cumberland Springs Road.
Council members cited a rise in accidents and near-misses over the past month, coinciding with heavy rain and increased construction traffic. Council member and Moore County Sheriff Department Chief Deputy Shane Taylor said law enforcement has received a growing number of calls from residents reporting slick road conditions and vehicles sliding due to mud tracked from construction entrances. Taylor stated that there were 1-2 wrecks along that stretch of road during the entirety of 2024 and as many as five so far in 2025 including three in the past 30 days.
Representatives from Silicon Ranch and project contractor LPL Solar outlined several immediate and preventative measures aimed at keeping mud off public roads. These include: bringing in additional rock and gravel at construction entrances to reduce tracking, Increasing the number and frequency of street sweepers, including vacuum-capable sweepers, Installing rumble pads at site exits to knock debris from truck tires, and coordinating sweepers to follow construction traffic throughout the day, rather than only at the end of shifts.
Project managers acknowledged that earlier efforts were not sufficient and said grading and stabilization work should significantly reduce mud issues as construction progresses.
Council members also raised concerns about damage to drainage tiles along Cumberland Springs Road. Silicon Ranch officials said any tile damage linked to construction activity would be repaired promptly rather than waiting until the end of the project.
Highway Superintendent Shannon Cauble also emphasized that one of the most effective short-term fixes is giving construction vehicles more distance at site exits so truck tires have time to shed mud before reaching public roads. Cauble noted that without adequate space, even repeated sweeping struggles to keep up, especially during wet weather. She said extending gravel approaches and exit lengths would allow wheels to rotate enough to clear debris, reducing the amount of mud carried onto Cumberland Springs Road and improving overall safety for motorists.
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Tony Grow of Grow Environmental Solutions, hired by Metro Moore County to oversee environmental compliance, reported that his firm conducts multiple weekly inspections, monitors stormwater controls, and flies weekly aerial imagery of the site
Grow said sediment basins are in place and functioning, but acknowledged instances where muddy runoff reached the headwaters of Hurricane Creek following heavy rain events. He said contractors responded quickly to those incidents and that monitoring will continue, particularly because Hurricane Creek is classified as an Exceptional Tennessee Water, which carries higher protection standards.
Resident Dale McGill raised questions about persistent white discoloration in creek water. Grow explained this is typically suspended clay common to the area’s geology and differs from heavier sediment that can smother streambeds, though he encouraged continued reporting of specific trouble spots.
At the request of council members, Silicon Ranch representatives agreed to provide regular updates and maintain open lines of communication so officials can better respond to constituent concerns as construction continues.
The meeting concluded with council members emphasizing that while economic development is important, public safety and infrastructure protection remain non-negotiable priorities.
In the end, while large-scale development may bring long-term economic benefits, county officials made clear that the responsibility for protecting public roads, waterways, and resident safety rests squarely with the developer during construction. Council members stressed that temporary impacts – such as mud-covered roads, damaged drainage infrastructure, and environmental strain – are not acceptable trade-offs. The expectation, they said, is proactive prevention, rapid response, and full accountability until the project is complete and conditions are restored.
The Metro Council meets every third Monday of the month at the American Legion Building located off Highway 129 at 6:30 p.m. To be added to tge agenda, contact Mayor Sloan Stewart’s office at 931-759-7076. •
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