Be patient – it will get better in Osgood

When streets are torn up and detours must be made it can sometimes be a bit of a struggle. But think of it this way, the end results will far outweigh a short inconvenience.
The Town of Osgood is taking advantage of the milder weather months to continue construction and are asking for everyone to be patient.

Steve Wilhoit put out a post recently saying that the Town of Osgood understands the inconvenience and frustration caused by the ongoing work on Cravens Street. This especially impacts local businesses and their customers. “We want the public to understand what occurred and why additional work became necessary during this project,” he noted.

Wilhoit said the street project is part of work carried over from 2025, with the remaining portion consisting of milling and paving. “When the contractor began milling the required 1.5 inches of blacktop from Craven Street, it was discovered that the existing asphalt was not thick enough and did not have a proper base underneath it,” he stated. He further clarified that once the milling process began, crews quickly realized they had milled completely through the asphalt surface and into gravel.

“Because there was no stable base beneath the roadway, simply replacing the original 1.5-inch surface would not have held up to normal local traffic or truck traffic. The roadway would have quickly failed and become damaged again,” Wilhoit said.

Wilhoit explained that to correct the issue properly the town made the decision to mill out an additional four inches and install a proper four-inch blacktop base before placing the final 1.5-inch surface layer. “While this unexpected condition has resulted in an approximate $60,000 change order to the project, it was not something the town could have reasonably foreseen before milling operations began,” he stated.

Wilhoit said businesses and residents in the project area were notified ahead of time regarding paving operations. Flyers were distributed to vehicles and residential homes in the affected area. “We also ask for the public’s understanding regarding weather-related delays,” he said.

At this time there is sidewalk access to the businesses and parking is still available along US 421 also known as Buckeye Street.

“The town remains committed to completing Craven Street correctly and safely are not going to take shortcuts on infrastructure that would create larger problems in the future. We appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding while this necessary work is completed properly,” Wilhoit concluded.

Jerry Taylor, who has owned and operated Taylor’s Tae Kwon Do in Osgood since 1982 noted, “The improvements I have seen since then are impressive and outstanding. Keep up the great work.”

Pat Underhill, a former Osgood resident, said he came to the area recently and is so proud of the way Osgood looks now. “As a contractor myself, the work around town is impressive in design and execution, from what I could see. I get around to hundreds of small towns every year, and what Osgood is now, is something to be proud of.”

Osgood has undergone many infrastructure upgrades that have changed the look of the town. Those working towards the goal have not wavered in their efforts to make the town the best it can be.