Commissioners plan to request signs on Highway 63

‘People pass on the shoulders to turn (at Big O’s), and it’s not safe’- Commissioner Dewayne Gibson

By Charlotte Underwood

Commissioners discussed a resolution requesting additional signage at red lights along State Route 63 in Campbell County, specifically at the red light at Old Middlesboro Highway and Big O’s and at Middlesboro Road. The resolution requests the department of transportation to place additional signage at the red lights indicating that the “shoulders are not turn lanes.”

The resolution states that while the Tennessee Department of Transportation has “improved the shoulders some”, there is still significant concern by citizens regarding the safety of the red lights” and that there is a” need for signage at the red lights indicating that the shoulders are not turn lanes.”

Commissioner Dewayne Gibson said he has received multiple phone calls about the traffic at the red light at Big O’s.

“People get wild and traffic gets backed up, people pass on the shoulders to turn there and it’s not safe,” Gibson said, adding that accidents would occur if something was not done.

Commissioner Beverly Hall said the same thing and that she herself had almost been hit at that intersection.

Commissioner Rusty Orick said the commission had requested TDOT multiple times for these road issues to be fixed and that it was a state Highway so the county could not do anything about it themselves.

Orick said the resolution needed to be sent to the main Commissioner of TDOT.

This resolution will be voted on at next Monday’s Commission meeting.

Once it is passed, a copy of the resolution will be sent to TDOT, as well as to State Representative Dennis Powers and State Senator Ken Yager.

During Monday’s workshop, Commissioners heard from a concerned citizen who spoke at the meeting reiterating these concerns and asking for something to be done by the state before someone was “seriously injured.” (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-03/04/2025-6AM)