Each morning, Kalena Randall’s commute starts with a painful thump-thump, the result of a 4-foot-wide pothole directly in front of her driveway.

DRC/Barron Ludlum

Smith Road in western Denton County shows damage Wednesday from heavy truck traffic. Within three months, Denton County workers are expected to begin construction on a project to improve Old Stoney, Smith and Schluter roads.

It’s an annoying reminder of the presence of trucks used for gas well drilling in her neighborhood. And she’s tired of it.

“It’s a mess,” she said. “I wish that they would get to it faster.”

Within three months Randall should get her wish, as Denton County workers are expected to begin construction on an $8 million project that would im­prove Smith, Old Stoney and Schluter roads.

The 5.8-mile project is the second of a $17.9 million bond project that voters approved in 2004, and it will be the first county-maintained concrete roadway to support 40 tons, according to Precinct 4 County Commissioner Andy Eads.

The project is expected to improve travel for gas well trucks as well as residents.

“This is a response to the ongoing gas development in the western part of the county,” Eads said. “This is a main thoroughfare for gas trucks.”

With a majority of the gas well heads in the county west of Interstate 35, Randall and other residents have be­come all too familiar with trucks that use the roads as a north and south route between U.S. Highway 380 and FM2449.

The roads, some of which were built to handle only 12.5 tons, have become damaged under the weight of the trucks’ heavy loads.

Randall said she understands that gas companies have to use the roads, but she believes they should fix them.

“Make them pay for it instead of the taxpayers,” she said. “If you make the mess, you clean up. They need to be held responsible.”

In an effort to reduce damage, the newly designed roads would be able to withstand 80,000 pounds, which is the same maximum weight restriction of Interstate 35, Eads said. The roads would be slightly widened to 30 feet and drain­age would be improved, he said.

“Safety is our No. 1 concern,” Eads said. “This will make the road safer for the driving public.”

Eads expects construction to begin on all three roads by summer and be completed by spring 2009. Previous timetables had construction scheduled to begin by February and completed by early 2009, but the project was delayed as the county acquired right of way from landowners.

The county is still acquiring right of way, and Eads expects it to be completed by the end of next month.

“I am pretty excited about this project,” he said. “This shows how long that these road projects take.”

DAN X. McGRAW can be reached at 940-566-6875. His e-mail address is dmcgraw@dentonrc.com .