It’s been a week today since one lane of Towe String Road was closed

TOP PHOTO: A most busy intersection continues operating without one of its turn lanes again today.

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – It’s been a week since a sinkhole was discovered on Towe String Road where the road intersects with the four lane at the Citizens Bank stop light.  There’s still no clear cut plan on when repairs will begin as one turn lane continues to be closed.

As of Tuesday evening, La Follette Public Works Director Casey Boshears had not heard anything else from TDOT.  “TDOT ran a camera down it today (Tuesday), and I’m thinking we will hear something pretty soon on how much of the box culvert they think needs to be replaced and their recommendations on how to fix it,” said Boshears.

“I spoke with Steve Borden, the Regional Director at TDOT, yesterday.  Over the weekend, TDOT had a technician go into the box culvert that is collapsing, and he was looking at the results of the video and he also looked at the history,” said State Representative Dennis Powers.  Powers points out that the original structure that was installed is still intact.  “TDOT had even researched it back to 1947 before it became Towe String Road.  I think he called it Doughtery Road,” said Powers.

Since the original construction of the box culvert under Towe String Road, Powers notes that some other elements were added onto it, and TDOT is trying to determine if it was TDOT or someone locally, but that is the part that has collapsed. “It is not on the state right of way, but Bordon said he would try to get some funding to help; materials and the like,” said Powers.  (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 08/17/2022-6AM-PHOTOS COURTESY OF WLAF’S CHARLIE HUTSON)