Jackson County is said to have the highest percentage of dirt roads in the state. That and other problems have county officials quite concerned these days. There may be some good news just around the bend.

Jackson County has almost 1,300 miles of unpaved roads, and some of the roads and intersections that are paved are too small to handle the growing traffic congestion, especially around Interstate 10.

"Road capacity issues in the county are on some of the state roads connecting with the interstate. So, for example, State Road 71 intersecting with Highway 90," said regional planning council Keith McCorron.

That's caused spillover to surrounding roadways and even more congestion, and McCorron says when truckers try to take a path less-traveled, that can make matters worse.

"The design of those intersections does not probable meet state requirements, for example, the turning radius of that one intersection in Sneads."

Insufficient turning radius means trucks can't turn without going into the lane of oncoming traffic. To solve this and some of the other problems, Jackson County commissioners approved a plan of action submitted by the Department of Transportation.

Jackson County Administrator Ted Lakey says it will fund some badly needed improvements.

"On the five year plan they’re some state roads that they will be working to resurface, and on the county road there is a program that will help physically constrain counties that do resurfacing work and improvements."

Under the project, Jackson County will share $20 million for road improvements with 35 other counties.

"The state funds really do help the small counties’ leverage," Lakey said.

The five year plan is subjected to funding approval by the state. Improvements not complete before the money runs out will carry over to the next five year plan.

The five year plan also includes a proposal to help trucks bypass residential areas. So far the suggestion is to have commercials vehicles use state road networks, which may help the argument for the proposed toll road connecting Panama City Beach to Montgomery, Alabama.