MARION COUNTY, Tenn. — The Marion County Highway Department has reached a significant milestone in its ongoing effort to improve county infrastructure, completing paving work on its 70th road in just three years.
Marion County Highway Superintendent Cory Pickett announced the achievement this week following the completion of paving work on Kilgore Goforth Road and Turnabout Road in The Pocket area of Whitwell Mountain.
According to Pickett, the department has paved 70 county roads since 2023, despite overseeing a vast road network consisting of approximately 353 miles of roadway and 507 county roads.
Marion County Highway Department Facebook
“With the road we paved today, in three years we have managed to pave 70 Marion County roads,” Pickett said in a social media post. “That is a huge accomplishment.”
Recent paving projects completed by county crews include Kilgore Goforth Road, Turnabout Road, Rollins Loop, and Choctaw Trail and others. Highway Department crews have shared photos throughout the past several weeks showing fresh asphalt being laid on roads across multiple areas of the county.
Pickett acknowledged that while residents often request paving projects in their communities, budget limitations make it impossible to resurface every county road in a single year.
“I would love to be able to pave every road in the road book,” Pickett said. “Unfortunately, the budget will not allow me to do that in one year. We pave everything we possibly can during the paving season.”
The superintendent credited Highway Department employees, contracted trucking companies, the Marion County Finance Committee, and Marion County Commissioners for helping make the paving program possible.
Road improvements have been a major focus of the Highway Department in recent years as crews work through a long list of roads requiring resurfacing. The projects are aimed at improving driving conditions, extending the life of county roadways, and addressing infrastructure needs across Marion County’s rural and mountainous terrain.
With the paving season still underway, county officials say additional road projects are expected as weather and funding allow.
Residents traveling through active paving zones are encouraged to use caution and expect occasional delays while crews continue work on roads throughout the county.
