Scott Smith, a District 3 employee, drives a dump truck down Airport Road. Crews began milling up the pothole-filled road Tuesday in an effort to resurface it.

Calhoun Community College students and truck drivers accustomed to traveling down Airport Road will have to find a new route as the road will be closed to thru-traffic for the next few weeks.

On Tuesday, crews began milling up the pothole-filled road in an effort to resurface it. The project has been one of great interest to Limestone County Commissioner Jason Black who has referred to it as the “worst road” in his district.

In July, Limestone County completed the steps to take over the road from the city of Decatur. Airport Road lies in Decatur-annexed Limestone County and intersects with U.S. 31 to the west and proceeds 2 miles before intersecting with Buddy Garrett and Bibb Garrett roads near Nazarene Primitive Church.

The road is used as a cut-through for Calhoun Community College students. It’s also a main thoroughfare for trucks going to and from the Rogers Group quarry in Tanner because weight restrictions keep the trucks from Interstate 565.

Black received in-kind help with the project from Rogers Group, which donated gravel. Black said once milling of the road is complete, the gravel surface would remain for the next two weeks until the road settles. At that point, Reid Construction will come in and chip-seal the road.

“(Airport Road) gives drivers another option and helps take trucks off Garrett Road,” Black said of the project.

He added the project did not represent a cost to the county, with the exception of man-hours, fuel and equipment usage.