Commissioners ban semis on roads southeast of Franklin

County officials banned truck traffic on several rural roads just outside the eastern Franklin city limits.

The Johnson County Board of Commissioners on Monday voted unanimously to restrict heavy truck traffic on sections of nine county roads just south of King Street/State Road 44 near Interstate 65 in Franklin.

Trucks will be restricted on the following roads:

• County Road 700 N/Clark School Road between 300 E/Five Points Road and N 400 E/North Hurricane Road.
• County Road E 800 N/Billingsly Road between N 325 E/Griffith Road and N 440 E/Franklin Road.
• N 325 E/Griffith Road; County Road S 450 E, between the City of Franklin city limits and Greensburg Road.
• Greensburg Road, between S 450 E and S 510 E.
• County Road S 510 E, between Greensburg Road and E 250 S.
• County Road E 250 S, between Old US 31 and S 510 E.
• County Road S 550 E, between Franklin city limits and Greensburg Road.
• County Road E 50 S, between S 550 E and S 600 E.
• County Road S 600 E, between E 50 S and E 250 S.

With industrial development in Franklin east of I-65, truck traffic has increased significantly on these county roads, said Luke Mastin, highway director. The trucks are doing a lot of damage to the roads, and restricting them from that area was the best course of action, he said.

“Ultimately, these roads were not built to handle truck traffic,” Mastin said at the June 10 commissioners meeting.

Commissioner Brian Baird asked Mastin at that meeting to ensure the county notify Franklin officials of these restrictions so they won’t be surprised when it goes into effect.

“I know they’ve kind of created this problem for us, but just let them know that this is what we’re doing,” Baird said.

Mastin said he notified the city of Franklin about this ordinance, and there are plans to work together to place signs about the truck restrictions within city limits.