State Route 7 in Maury County Closed Until Late 2010

NASHVILLE – Due to severe damage from the flooding that occurred in early May, a portion of State Route 7 in Maury County will be closed for several months. Heavy rains saturated the ground underneath the pavement, causing two sections of the roadway to collapse and slide down a steep embankment. Traffic is currently being detoured around the roughly 3 mile stretch of SR 7, which is located in the Santa Fe community in the northwest section of Maury County.

 

The two landslide areas involve approximately 1500 feet of roadway. In some places, the road sank 20 feet below its original elevation. TDOT has initiated an emergency contract for geotechnical studies of the soil in the area and for the design of the repairs.

 

“It’s rare to see a landslide of this magnitude, and the ground remains extremely unstable,” said TDOT Geotechnical Engineer Vanessa Bateman. “Any subsequent wet weather could trigger more slides in this area and could further complicate repair efforts.”

 

Once the geotechnical studies and design are complete, TDOT will accept bids on the repair work and anticipates having a contract in place by early summer. The repair work is estimated to take 5-6 months to complete. During this time, traffic will continue to be detoured around the affected area.

 

A number of Tennessee roadways were damaged by the recent flooding. For a complete list of impacted areas, please visit the TDOT SmartWay web site at www.tn.gov/tdot/tdotsmartway/. Travelers can also dial 511 from any land-line or cellular phone for travel information or can follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/TN511 for statewide travel information or www.twitter.com/Nashville511 for traffic information in the Nashville area. Motorists are reminded to use all motorist information tools responsibly. Drivers should refrain from texting, tweeting or using a mobile phone while operating a vehicle. TDOT advises drivers to “Know before you go!” by checking traffic conditions before leaving for your destination.