It’s hard to drive down Molly Barr Road and not notice the increase of dump trucks and semis rolling down the road.

It’s also hard to miss the damage the large trucks seem to be doing to the road that’s usually traveled on by regular vehicles, and the amount of gravel covering the new bike lanes.

Most of the traffic is coming from the realignment of Price Street, which is being moved north to connect further up on Molly Barr so the Oxford Activity Center will have more space on its campus.

Before the road can be built, the city has to remove the tons of old, compacted trash that was dumped there when the property used to be the city dump.

In the long run, the additional space for the Activity Center will help architects in designing a new center to help serve the growing population of children in Oxford and Lafayette County.

We assume the city will require the contractors to help repair any damage the trucks have caused and return the roads back as they were. Of course, it’s not all the cause of the new road. Several residential projects are taking place in the area as well.

In the meantime, we urge drivers to slow down and bicycles to take special care when using the bike lanes. We know local gas stations and convenience stores are probably enjoying the temporary boost in business as well.

Progress is often messy but when it’s complete, Oxford will be better for it.