The under construction Loupe Bridge on Dossett Lane is likely going to cost another $240,000

TOP PHOTO: Much prep work on the Loupe Bridge is already underway.

By Charlotte Underwood

JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF)- The request for more funds for the Dossett Lane Bridge project was discussed by the County Commission at Monday’s workshop.

Commission Chairman Johnny Bruce said he and County Mayor Jack Lynch had been approached by the LaFollette mayor regarding the Bert Loupe Bridge project on Dossett Lane.

“For some reason CSX (Railroad) has come and said the soil is contaminated and it’s going to cost another $240,000 to clean it up. They are requesting another $120,000 from us. I informed Mr. Kitts (Scott Kitts LaFollette mayor) the last time they came to us was supposed to be the final one; How you guys handle it is up to this body,” Commission Chairman Bruce told commissioners.

Commissioner Rusty Orick asked whose dirt it was and what it was contaminated with.

County Mayor Lynch said he had talked to LaFollette City Administrator Stan Foust right before Monday’s meeting started and that “Foust was supposed to send more information.”

Commissioner Rusty Orick, left, said more questions needed answered before the county could consider more funding for the Dossett Lane Bridge Project, the Bert Loupe Bridge. Also pictured is Commissioner Zach Marlow and Commissioner Scott Stanfield.

Orick said he would like to see the bridge happen and that he thought it was a good thing but asked when the money requests were going to stop.

“This project has been going on 8 to 10 years, why didn’t the engineers go over the dirt,” Orick said. He said the project had “stalled out.”

According to Orick, it is the last bridge project the state has to complete before it can do other bridge projects.

“Now it has come to perdition, and it has to be done or done away with. This is the last project that the state has to finish and move on and do any other bridge projects and now we have contaminated soil,” Orick said.

Commissioner Dewayne Gibson asked, “how do they know how deep that contamination is or are they going to come back and ask for more money?”

Chairman Bruce said that was a good point.

Commissioner Scott Stanfield said, “If it’s on the railroad no one will touch that but the railroad.”

Chairman Bruce said additional questions needed answered before the commission voted on anything.

Some of these questions included what the soil is contaminated with and what is the extent of the contamination.

County Commissioners met Monday evening for their workshop.  During the workshop the Dossett Lane Bridge Project, the Bert Loupe Bridge, was discussed and that the city of LaFollette was asking for additional funds.

County Mayor Jack Lynch said Mayor Scotty Kitts said he had been informed of the contamination problem on Thursday.

“Does LaFollette have their funds?” Orick asked.

“According to Mayor Kitts they do,” Lynch responded.

Lynch also told commissioners he would forward on any additional information that had been sent to him by LaFollette City Administrator Stan Foust.

This will be discussed again on Monday evening, but no vote will be taken, according to Bruce. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-07/15/2025-6AM)

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