Brunswick Co. homeowners say construction causes potholes, threatens safety

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY)– Growing potholes are creating safety threats for some Brunswick County homeowners.

Some residents on Pine Cliff Drive near Leland say the developers next to them aren’t being good neighbors. It’s bumpy and there are pot holes left and right, but at least 30 families rely on this 2 mile dirt road everyday to get home. Johnny Thompson started his family on that dirt road 30 years ago.

“I was the first to move on this road,” Thompson said. “Now I have 15 grandchildren and one on the way.”

Five years ago he says that road became hazardous when Andy Sandman started developing Grayson Park down the road.

“He asked me three times, let’s be good neighbors,” Thompson said.

Thompson says that’s not the case.

“He cares nothing about the people that live on this road,” Thompson said. “All of the construction equipment for his development has to come through our road.”

Thompson says a sign in the new development directs traffic to Thompson’s road to avoid a $100 fine. Now Thompson says their dirt road is a safety risk.

“It’s a health issue, because of ambulances not being able to get in and out properly,” Thompson said. “Fire trucks are not able to get in and out properly.”

Thompson says school buses, except for a special needs bus, even stopped coming down the road years ago.

“It’s a two mile road,” Thompson said. “Some children have to walk all the way from the back to the front.”

Thompson tried fixing it himself with a neighbor’s tractor at least 100 times, but every time it rains, it gets ruined. Thompson and WWAY took the concern to town, county and state officials. Since the private road was constructed after 1975 homeowners would have to rebuild the road up to state standards, before the state could take it over its maintenance. That is something Thompson says they can’t afford.

“People on this road live check to check,” Thompson said.

It’s a dirt road Thompson says the “good neighbor” Sandman wanted to be should help keep up.

“He told me himself that we needed to be good neighbors, but he has not been a good neighbor himself,” Thompson said.

Andy Sandman did not return our phone calls. Leland and Brunswick County officials say they have tried doing everything they can to help.