The repair process will take months.

Last weekend’s floods wrecked havoc on Macon County roads.

Now it’s up to the Macon County Highway Department and Supervisor Audie Cook to put it all back together again.

The damage is widespread and effects numerous roads – many of them washed out or impassable. Others roads, meanwhile, are passable but still need some degree of repair work.

For example:

Green Valley Road is listed as being passable by 4-wheel drive vehicles only. Between Red Hill and Driver Hill, tile has washed out and needs lots of gravel.

Meanwhile, Haynestown Bridge is washed out and closed and needs a barricade to block access from Highway 10.

“We’ve got some volunteers to help us,” Cook told County Commissioners on Monday night, “but the main thing we’re going to need to help us is some money. We’ve got a lot of work to be done.”

To get the repair ball rolling, commissioners approved $250,000, effective Monday night, for the highway department to begin its long, labor-intensive task.

Commissioners also authorized three county officials – Cook, County Mayor Shelvy Linville and Commissioner Jerry Ray – to decide how best to put the money to immediate use.

With so many roads partially or completely destroyed, and many others needing some degree of work, where exactly does the repair work begin?

Good question, Cook told commissioners.

“We’re starting where people are blocked at home and can’t get out and then just pick a place and take off,” Cook said. “I know everybody wants to be first. Everybody is asking for the road right in front of their house – that’s just the nature of all of us.”

One item that is needed – and was discussed at length Monday night – is a track hoe.

“At this point, a track hoe would be the best thing we could use in our line of business,” Cook said.

Estimates for a track hoe range from $80,000 to $120,000 for a used one and $180,000 to $200,000 for a new one, Cook said.

Cook said he had no preference between used or new, but added the county needs to obtain a late-year model.

The highway department estimates between 20 and 30 wooden bridges were washed out. Some are still standing but either not safe or yet to be inspected.

Cook said it could take six to eight months to a year to complete the repairs, but added that’s just an estimate. At this early stage, Cook said “I don’t know” how long it will take.

To highlight the challenge ahead of the highway department, here’s a sampling of closed roads, as of Monday night, along with the comments listed for the roads on the department’s official flood damage spreadsheet:

Closed Roads

Addison Hollow

“culverts full need back hoe (impassable)”

Barber Hollow Road

“Culvert washed completely out (road cut into) able to get out on each side”

Barefoot Road

“Completely impassable” (families trapped)

Beck Lane

“washed”

Ben Road

“closed road”

Buck Hanes Road

“Road completely washed away”

Bush Road

“washed need backhoe”

Claiborne Lane (at Carter Branch)

“bridge and tile out”

Clifty Road

“tree down (HUGE)/need grader to clean debris”

Coleman Lane

“Tile gone (impassable)”

Collidge Road

“Closed road/cut into”

Copperhead Lane (intersection Long Hungry)

“HUGE hole needs taped (impassable 3 families)

Dark Hollow

“Tree Down”

Gann Hollow

“closed at Amons Lane 4ft wash out 200 yards+”

Gas Hollow Road

“not passable resident is trying to work on with tractor closed from Galen Road side and on Winkler side (residents unable to get out)”

Green Valley Road

“Multiple trees down (contact tri county &nctc)”

Haynestown Bridge

“Washed/closed (needs baracade) Block off at Hwy 10”

Holder Branch Road

“Tile completely gone (can’t get out) needs backhoe”

Howell Road

“mud slide 4’ dirt in road”

Howt Owl Lane (off New Harmony Road)

“completely washed away (not passable)”

Hoskins Hollow Road

“completely impassable”

Howell Road (2164)

“landslide and road washed”

Kemp Circle

“Road is washed out can’t get out”

Lick Branch Road

“closed road at hill (needs grader)”

Long Creek Bridge

“Washed/Closed”

McJury Lane

“impassable”

Middle Fork Road (bridge)

“blocked”

Morris Lane

“culvert washed tile there but washed around (unable to get out)”

North Springs Road

“Bridge washed out and road washed underneath”

Poplar Grove (intersection Buckhanes)

“Bridge needs barricade”

Poplar Grove (bottom of hill)

“hillside broke off (very large mudslide) closed from Bubba Youngs (2184) to Barefoot”

Puncheon Creek (at Green Valley (Kevin Woods))

“bridge out washed out around it/brush still underneath”

Puncheon Creek

“blocked and can’t get out (3 families serious health problems)

Richardson Road (where it turns into gravel)

“4’ drop (needs barricade)

Salt Lick Road (Gravel section)

“completely washed”

Shockley Hill Road (intersection of Green Valley)

“Washed (closed)”

South Long Creek (Wilma Bandy)

“3-4 tiles completely washed (impassable)”

South Oldham Lane

“Completely impassable (Washed) tiles washed need gravel”

Sullivan Hollow

“culvert gone”

Toney Road

“Union camp side closed tile out”

Trammel Creek

“Wooden bridge closed wash under payment on approach”

Tucker Road

“Cedar trees (20) family trapped” and on Akersville side “tile washed out impassable”

West Fork Road

“Closed Road”

Wilderness Lane (private)

“completely washed impassable”

Wilmore Hollow Road

“Trees in road and road washed (impassable)”

Wixtown Road

“Closed Road”

Woodard Road (Gene Beasley)

“6ft tile washed out (25’ wide 12’ deep)