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JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF) – Representatives from the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) attended the Monday night county commission workshop to provide an update on the various TDOT projects around the Campbell County. Commissioners and the public voiced concerns about traffic problems caused by the ongoing construction on Highway 63 in East LaFollette.
Former county commissioner Beverly Hall led off during the public comment session of the workshop, challenging officials to take action over the dangerous intersection of Highway 63 and Davis Chapel Road.
“We need a light there,” Hall said. She added that the construction barrels along the road where no work is currently underway also pose a hazard and should be removed to allow for a turning lane.
Commissioner Lisa Lester added there are other problems as well and that morning traffic when parents are taking children to LaFollette Elementary and Middle schools also poses a dangerous situation. Other residents in the audience addressed the commission with similar concerns.
“The entire stretch between Food Lion and Ball Farm is an absolute mess,” Don Hendrix said.
“Somebody is going to get killed before it’s over,” Commissioner Scott Kitts added. “I’ve received 47 phone calls about the traffic mess in the past three months.”
Sheriff Robbie Goins and representatives from the LaFollette Police Deptartment were also present, but could offer little in the way of solutions. One suggestion to divert school traffic to Back Valley Road did not sit well with the sheriff, who called that “a recipe for disaster.”
Joshua Metz of TDOT addressed the commission and the unhappy public, but could offer little other than a pledge that “We take suggestions to heart.” He pointed out that after last month’s workshop when told that the signal light at Big O’s was only flashing yellow, “That signal was fixed by the next morning.”
“One of the things we can’t do, we can’t add a right turn lane,” Metz said. “That construction zone belongs to the contractor. It is a work zone. A couple of things we can do, we can reduce the speed but only by a 10 mph maximum reduction.”
Metz added that the construction project is scheduled to be completed by the end of May 2023 and that the next two sections of the planned four lane will add 10 more miles. “The contractor is not behind schedule,” he added.
Commissioner Rusty Orick suggested that a light at the Davis Chapel intersection would help, Hall agreeing while Kitts said he would support lights at both Davis Chapel and the Food Lion Center. The TDOT representatives left with no promises except to take the suggestions under consideration, attempting to end the presentation on a positive note by pointing out that the long overdue construction of a truck lane on I-75 is expected to be complete by this December, “hopefully on time.”
The commission then went over the planned agenda for next week’s meeting. Mayor E.L. Morton ran into resistance on several items, starting with approval of the county’s adventure tourism district plan. “I do not support ATV use on heavily trafficked roads,” Orick said. Kitts also protested that “There is no way ATVs should be allowed on Towe String Road.” Morton said that currently, ATVs are only permitted on county roads in the Norris Lake area, including Pinecrest and Demory Roads.
The commission also placed on the agenda a vote on joining the settlement of the multi-county opioid lawsuit. “I don’t like this. I want my day in court,” Morton commented but agreed that the settlement is probably necessary. “If we go forward on our own, we run the risk that they will run out of money and we get nothing.”
The commission will also vote on several budget amendments next week, including an increase in the planned waterline expansion project in partnership with LUB. The commission will vote on adding another $50,000 to bring the county’s share up to $300,000 with LUB matching that amount. The commission is hopeful that the project will qualify for federal funding through the American Rescue Plan. Morton had concerns about adding to the bill, and the commission will vote to designate Chairman Johnny Bruce to sign off on the grant request. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 11/10/2021-6AM)
Apparently a couple of our county commissioners are not hearing are caring about the thoughts and input from their constituents about the uses of public roadways for ATV use. I personally have reached out to my district commissioner asking for his support to speak up for ATV use on certain public roadways easily accessible to the ATV mountain area trails. He’s the very one that spoke up against it. It seems that the Pinecrest and Demory areas that have legal roadway use are specifically accommodating the Norris Lake tourism communities. I will do my very best to help oust these commissioners from their seats come election time!