U.S. 129 Rockslide Update for May 27

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Several hundred tons of material is being hauled away as crews continue to work to repair and stabilize a mountainside that slid onto U.S. 129/SR-115 on March 14,2010. More than 11,000 tons of rock has been removed from the unstable slope using three trim blasts and scaling. This week, crews have hauled away more than 55 truck-loads of material. Hauling will continue through the rest of the week.

 

Meanwhile, Tennessee Department of Transportation emergency contractor Pacific Blasting & Demolition Ltd. is continuing to install passive, or un-tensioned rock bolts into the mountainside to add stability to the slope. Crews are also installing mesh cables that will eventually be used to support a wire mesh drape to give the mountainside additional stability. At this point, workers have installed 29 anchors to support the mesh drape. Crews will install another 15 anchors in the coming days.

 

Next week, crews will begin drilling 21 holes to insert low-impact explosives for another trim blast. It will take several days to drill the holes in preparation for the specialized procedure. 

 

TDOT has offered a $195,000 incentive for early completion if the contractor opens the road by July 1, 2010. However, the completion date of the project is July 31, 2010.

 

TDOT has created a web page for information on the rockslide, detours, pictures and video which can be found at  http://www.tdot.state.tn.us/US129rockslide/default.htm. To view rockslide repair work on U.S. 129/State Route 115 you can go to http://earthcam.com/clients/tennessseedot/.  You can also view our latest trim blast at http://www.youtube.com/user/TDOTnews .

 

U.S. 129/SR-115 remains closed from just past the Foothills Parkway to the Tabcat Bridge. However, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. U.S. 129/SR-115 is open from Tabcat Bridge to the state line. Through traffic is not allowed to travel through the slide area at anytime. Detours remain in place to allow motorists to get around the rockslide repair area.

 

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For more information contact:

Yvette Martinez

TDOT Region 1 Community Relations Officer

865-594-0161