Resolution and letter planned from commissioners for traffic problems

‘There’s a traffic jam afternoons from Caryville to the other side of LaFollette’- Johnny Bruce

By Charlotte Underwood

JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF)- Campbell County Commissioners plan to pass a resolution at next Monday’s regular monthly meeting, asking the Tennessee Department of Transportation, along with Senator Ken Yager and State Representative Dennis Powers to help with traffic problems in the county.

County Commission Chairman Johhny Bruce brought the topic up at Monday’s workshop, saying that if something wasn’t done and a major accident occurred, then ambulances would not be able to get through.

“Guys, I would like to bring something up and this has been brought up several times by this body, but I would like to ask that we send a letter to our state representative and our state senator and also TDOT to look into the traffic jam that we have every afternoon from Caryville to the other side of LaFollette,” Bruce said.

He said he spoke with the ambulance director and that alternate routes were needed.

Rusty Orick said he had heard LaFollette was going to do a study on their red lights as well.

 “It’s something that we need to get them to at least look into,” Bruce said.

Commissioners Dewayne Kitts and Beverly Hall both spoke up and said there still needed to be “safety enhancement improvements on Stiner Highway going up the valley.”

“Still the turnoffs on Davis Chapel and at Big O’s we still have not had anything done and TDOT knows about it and is aware of the situation,” Kitts said.

“They are still driving on the shoulders of the road and just flying,” Commissioner Hall added.

“We could do a resolution as a commission and when we go to Nashville in February to meet with our reps, we could take that and hopefully push that through,” suggested Commissioner Orick. He said it was time for Nashville and TDOT to start “listening.”

Bruce agreed and said a resolution needed to be taken to Yager and Powers and a letter sent to TDOT. This will be on next week’s agenda. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-12/09/2025-6AM)