Mississippi Department of Transportation officials say therights of way in Lincoln County need to be clear in two weeks whenthey begin cleanup. Otherwise, trash bins, old appliances and otherblockages will be removed.

“This began because it was indicated to us that there wereactual encroachments on the right of way, and there aren’t supposedto be encroachments,” said Carrie Adams of the MDOT OutreachDivision.

Adams said there have been problems with appliances, such asrefrigerators, being left in the right of way also.

“I think what MDOT is doing is going around in areas where theyhave something on the right of way, and they’re informing residentsthey can’t put things there,” she said.

MDOT Encroachment Officer Ronnie Reeves said the problem with theappliances is that sometimes people will put their trash in them tokeep dogs and other animals from tearing up the trash bags. He saidthat whether it’s about appliances, trash bins or otherencroachments, the rights of way need to be clear.

“It’s a hazard. If someone hits it and gets hurt the owner if thetrash bin can be liable,” he said. “It applies to anything in theright of way.”

MDOT District Seven Engineer Darrell Broome reminded residents of13 counties in a recent press release that it is actually illegalto have blockages in the right of way on state roads.

Adams said putting trash bins out on the day the trash is actuallybeing picked up is not a problem.

“The day of trash pickup, I don’t think they’re referring to that,”she said. “But some people are just leaving their garbage cansthere, I think that’s what they’re worried about.”

MDOT crews will be removing containers in Adams, Amite, Covington,Franklin, Jefferson Davis, Lawrence, Lincoln, Marion, Pike,Simpson, Smith, Walthall and Wilkinson counties in coming weeks.Reeves said they’re almost finished with Pike County.

“We’ll probably finish that today,” he said Monday. “People havebeen mighty nice about their garbage bins so far.”

Reeves said the cleanup should begin in Lincoln County in about twoweeks, but MDOT officials simply wanted residents to know what wasgoing on when their crews hit the streets.

“We’re giving them the opportunity to know what’s going on beforewe start,” he said.