The first dirt road in Lowndes County, Georgia, to get curb and gutters to save tree canopies when paved, was Quarterman Road, back in 2009. Here are videos of what its two tree canopies look like today.

Quarterman Road Tree Canopy 2026-08-08, The first with curb & gutter in Lowndes County, GA

North canopy:

https://youtu.be/sddnjInkem8

Southwest canopy:

https://youtu.be/PFAcSmgcG7g

How did that happen? According to the Matt Flumerfelt, Valdosta Daily Times, November 12, 2008, Quarterman Road set to be paved,

The County overcame some objections to the project by agreeing to install curbs and gutters along the canopy sections of the road instead of the original plan that would have required clearing a wider area prior to paving. County Commissioner Richard Lee said the Quarterman Road paving project had “garnered more communication than any other project I can remember except maybe one.” Lee continued, “The commissioners have bent over backwards to try and accommodate that major concern [the tree canopies] that many of you have.” Lee went on to say, “The only final solution for making this road safe, sound and accessible consistently is for it to be paved.”

We and many neighbors sent in a petition, and many people sent letters to the Commissioners.

North canopy, Quarterman Road, 2026-08-08 –jsq for OPF, 2026:08:08 10:50:09, https://www.google.com/maps/@31.0044206,-83.2735535,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x0

We later found out after this vote that the county had not returned all the relevant information in response to an open records request, such as not all the letters.

They also did not return a purported reconciliation of the petitions for and against paving that discarded from the list against a family who had owned land on Quarterman Road for 50 years, and another that had owned land for a decade, and counted for paving a builder who doesn’t even live in the Lowndes County. The Commissioners had seen that “reconciliation” before they voted. The citizens had not.

Our complaints at the first January 2009 County Commission meeting are why the speed limit got set to 35 instead of 45.

Southwest canopy, Quarterman Road, 2026-08-08 –jsq for WWALS, 2026:08:08 10:51:29, https://www.google.com/maps/@30.9969708,-83.2754556,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x0

According to the Valdosta Daily Times back on September 10, 2009, quoting me, “While not as many of the trees on Quarterman Road were saved as many of us would have liked, some trees are better than no trees, and this seems to have set a precedent,” Quarterman said. “More people around the county seem to be paying attention these days. Commissioners tell us that already another road in the county has had its canopy saved during paving, and the commission has promised residents of Coppage Road that if their road is paved, their canopy will be saved. Commissioners even seem to like the idea of recognizing canopy roads as a feature of quality of life for residents of the county and for visitors.”

http://www.okraparadisefarms.com/blog/?p=554

Back in 2008, Lowndes County claimed they had to have a 60 foot right of way, blaming that on state requirements. Nevermind the state said they made no such requirements. The county also talked about highest and best use, nevermind 60% of the households on the road said they didn’t want it paved.

http://www.okraparadisefarms.com/blog/?p=649

Now the county wants 80 foot rights of way, and is willing to use eminent domain to get it.

Here’s what those canopies looked like just after paving the line striping.

http://www.okraparadisefarms.com/blog/?p=557

Here’s what these canopies looked like back when Quarterman Road was dirt.

http://www.okraparadisefarms.com/blog/?p=650

Look closely at the north end of the north canopy. There was a large oak tree. The county tore it down, along with many other trees inside the canopies.

There’s a still picture of it here.

http://www.okraparadisefarms.com/blog/?p=650

Ribbon Cutting Quarterman Road 2029-09-10 — Valdosta Daily Times
Lowndes County Board of Commissioners Chairman Ashley Paulk, Gretchen Quarterman and Commissioner Richard Lee cut the ribbon for the official completion of the Quarterman Road paving project Thursday morning.

-jsq

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