Chattooga County Public Works Director Joe Reed says that Welcome Hill Road will remain closed today while tile repairs are made.  The work began yesterday after a tile washed out between Old Justice Road and Chandler Road.  Last night, a motorist went around the “Road Closed” barricade resulting in damages to the work that public works had done on Wednesday.

Reed said that there was a water line and a high-pressure gas line in the work area.  Thankfully, the gas line was not damaged by the motorist.  According to Joe Reed, deputies say that when the driver was asked why he went around the “road closed” barricade, he replied that he was “eating french fries and not paying attention.”

The incident happened around 2 AM.

Reed said that if the rain holds off, public works crews will try to get all the repairs made and get the road opened back up sometime this evening.

In the mean time, those accessing Welcome Hill Road will need to continue to use Old Justice and Chandler Roads.