This is the fifth in a series highlighting the people and work behind all eight districts that make up ALDOT’s West Central Region.
A typical day in ALDOT’s Carrollton District doesn’t stick to a script.
The weather can change, a crash can occur, or pipe repair suddenly becomes more urgent than planned. And when that happens, the Carrollton District adjusts.
“Most days are very busy,” said Jonathan Anderson, who has served as the District Administrator in Carrollton since 2011 and has worked with ALDOT since 2002. “It seems chaotic at times because priorities can change at the last minute, but we just have to roll with it as it comes.”
Anderson oversees 50 employees who maintain state roadways across Pickens County and the northern half of Greene County. That includes 20 roadway workers, 16 rest area staff, six project office employees, two mechanics, two engineers, three clerical workers and one assistant administrator.
From asphalt patching to traffic control, sign installation to grass cutting, the work is nonstop. The Greene County rest areas operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, staffed by employees who often work nights, weekends and holidays.
“They have a real heart for public service,” Anderson said.
But what truly sets the Carrollton District apart is the family-like atmosphere.
“All of our employees either live in the district or have family that does,” Anderson said. “The sense of pride and urgency to perform roadway maintenance isn’t something driven by management. It comes from within.”
That personal connection fuels a strong culture of care. Crew members routinely flag issues they see while off duty. And it’s not uncommon for them to follow up with someone they’ve helped.
“One of our guys recently checked on a woman who’d been injured in an accident, on his own time,” Anderson said. “She was appreciative and felt how much pride we have in keeping our roads safe.”
Although many on the maintenance crew are relatively new to the job, Anderson said they rise to the occasion. Guardrail repair is the only maintenance task the district contracts out. Everything else is handled in-house.
“I expect a lot from our crews,” he said. “They know we’ll never finish our to-do list, but they show up every day ready for work. There is not a single roadway maintenance activity these guys cannot accomplish.”
Anderson is especially proud of how the district approaches resurfacing projects. Rather than simply laying new asphalt, his team addresses the root causes of roadway damage. That includes extending pipes and culverts, widening shoulders and stabilizing weak roadbeds with lime columns.
“We’ve made that our standard,” he said. “It gives us better roads long term and saves money on future maintenance.”
Their expertise has also helped on the interstate. After repairing holes in bridge decks along I-20/59, they shared findings that could help address similar issues on future construction projects.
“They sincerely care about public safety and put themselves on the line day in and day out,” Anderson said. “Often with less equipment and a tighter budget than other districts.”
Whether in the field or in the office, everyone works together. And when a job is done, there is a shared sense of pride.
“I can say with 100 percent certainty that the work our crew does reflects good work ethic and moral character,” Anderson said. “We’ll never know how many lives we save through our efforts, but the entire district deserves credit for the level of dedication they bring every single day.”
