By Rebekah Martin
Assistant Editor
MidSouth Aggregates, the Birmingham-based company that operates the limestone quarry at Spring Villa, near Opelika, plans to close it down by the end of 2014.
This information, openly rumored locally for the past several weeks, was verified by Heather Askew, the director of communications for Old Castle Materials, MidSouth’s holding company. “The company is in the process of executing a closure plan to ultimately end mining in the quarry and expects that all mining operations will cease before the year’s end,” she said.
After spending millions of dollars repairing a number of sinkholes thought to be the result of the quarrying operation, the company had considered relocation before ultimately deciding to shut down. Lee Road 148, Spring Villa Road, was just reopened last week following the latest closure for sinkhole repairs.
Askew also said “employees and customers were informed of this decision in late April. The company will remain on the property until it fulfills its obligations on site.”
The quarry is said to have been in operation since the 1850’s, although under several different ownerships over the period.
The “Opelika Observer” will provide additional information as details can be verified.
