TDOT rushing to reopen I-75

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TDOT rushing to reopen I-75.

CAMPBELL CO., Tenn. (WVLT) — The clock is ticking for TDOT crews trying to beat the deadline to reopen a southbound lane on I-75 near a massive landslide.

While the work is rough for them, it’s a headache for folks in Campbell County, whose neighborhoods are drowning in detour traffic.

The landslide under I-75 keeps moving, but many in Campbell County feel stuck. Interstate 75 runs from Canada to Florida, and for now it’s pinched right in the middle in one of the largest slides in East Tennessee history.

It could be September before all is back to normal, and June Forstner says the detour on 25W directing unfamiliar and out-of-state drivers right into the center of Jacksboro.

“They are having a problem getting out,” said June Forstner, a member of Jacksboro Town Council. “It could be very dangerous if a child is crossing the street, or if a car is crossing.”

Forstner was one of about 30 people who live and work in Campbell County asking questions Thursday. Could there be another way? Campbell County Roads superintendent Dennis Potter is calling for a county road detour along Stinking Creek Road.

“I think it’s a very good idea. Help a lot of people. Take a lot of traffic out of town where people could function and do their everyday life,” said Potter.

While TDOT plans to evaluate the suggestion, officials say it’s not that simple. Many roads aren’t wide enough to handle interstate volume.

“It’s going to be a process, a long process to get it back,” said TDOT Region One Transportation Director Steve Borden. “We have to put traffic on the safest and best available routes that we have. In this case, 297 and 25W are our best routes.”

Borden says TDOT is putting all the resources it can into stabilizing the slide and monitoring other areas for preventative measures.

The detours keeps law enforcement officers working too, but local agencies may have help footing the bill.

“They have the ability through the emergency relief fund that we’re using for the slide, to also piggy back with us to get reimbursed for some of the work that they are having to do,” said Borden.

Departments will have to apply for the funds through the state.

Even when I-75 reopens, could a slide this size happen again?

“With an aging infrastructure, these are challenges that we will always face,” said Borden.

Forstner says experience has taught her the answer.

“Without a doubt. Without a doubt,” she said. “If they listened to the local folks, that would help. Engineers can’t predict everything that’s going to happen.”

The contractors have until the end of September to rebuild, but if the work is finished in August, they’ll get a $500,000 bonus.

For now, TDOT recommends detouring to US 25W through LaFollette and Caryville. For more information, click on the link below.