Drivers may notice Marble Road looks a lot different this month. What was once a plain stretch of asphalt with white edge lines has been resurfaced and now sports fresh striping, including a double-yellow center line for clearer guidance and visibility.

Marble Road begins inside Crane city limits and runs north, a over a mile, before meeting Highway A. The upgrade gives the corridor a cleaner look and should aid drivers through the numerous hills found through the stretch.

The road also has a bit of history. In 2011, then-Stone County Clerk Judy Berkstresser was seriously injured in a collision while turning left from Billy Joe Road onto Marble Road. A lawsuit filed that year alleged several safety issues at the intersection, including missing or vanadlism-prone stop signs, limited sight distance due to roadway grade, and a lack of warnings.

More than a decade later, residents now see an improved roadway with prominent centerlines and edge markings - small details that can make a big difference on narrow county roads.

Photos below show the contrast: the older view (looking south from Highway A) had faint edge lines and no center stripe; the new view (looking north on Marble Rd.) shows fresh ashphalt and bright double-yellow centerlines.