Phase One of Rockslide Clearing Begins on US441 in Sevier County

Knoxville – Workers with Charles Blalock & Sons, Inc. will begin clearing debris from the rockslide on US441 (The Spur) tonight, February 11, 2010. Crews will bring down any lose material from the mountainside before hauling away the debris.

 

On Friday morning, crews will begin bolting the rock into the mountainside using 20 foot rods to stabilize the slope.

 

Meanwhile, contractors will also start hauling away an estimated 50 truckloads of rock this weekend.

Charles Blalock & Sons, Inc. is working on a $713,909 emergency contract that will be completed in two phases. Phase one includes clearing and stabilizing the slope, construction of a retaining wall and reopening the southbound lanes to traffic. TDOT has incorporated an incentive into the contract for the completion of phase one by March 12. Phase two of the project will include the creation of a stained rock facade, restriping and repaving of the impacted area.

 

Motorists traveling southbound on US441 are currently utilizing one of the two northbound lanes to travel around the rockslide location. The detour will remain in place until completion of phase one of the project.

 

For more information on this, or any other TDOT construction project, visit www.tn.gov/tdot/tdotsmartway. TDOT is also on Twitter. For up to the minute traffic information in Knoxville and the Tri-Cities follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/knoxville511. For statewide travel information follow www.twitter.com/TN511.

 

 

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For More Information Contact:
Yvette Martinez
TDOT Region 1 Community Relations Officer
Yvette.Martinez@tn.gov

865-594-0161 - Office