U.S. 129 Slide Repair Update for May 4

 

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Department of Transportation emergency contractor Pacific Blasting & Demolition Ltd. is continuing to work on stabilizing the mountainside that overlooks U.S. 129/State Route 115 in Blount County. A major rockslide closed both lanes just past the Foothills Parkway on U.S. 129 on March 14, 2010.

 

On Friday, crews started the first phase of low-impact trim blasting on the west end of the slope. Trim blasting is a low-impact blasting technique used to carefully tap a loose boulder and get it to fall apart and fall down the slope. Workers drill holes in strategic locations around the targeted rock and insert a small quantity of explosives to remove the rock. Trim blasting is being used on this project to minimize flying rock debris and to avoid causing further damage to the mountainside.

 

This weekend’s heavy rains and gravity are helping to move the rock that was trim blasted off the slope and onto the pavement below. 

 

Meanwhile, crews continue to drill 45 anchors at the top of the impacted slope. The 50 foot anchors will be used to stabilize the mountainside. Crews will also finish drilling the 30 foot and 20 foot anchors on the east end of the slope. 

 

stU.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.

 

TDOT has created a web page for information on the rockslide which can be found at www.tn.gov/tdot by clicking on the link "Rockslide Closures" at the top of the page. Motorists can find detour maps for all rockslides currently affecting travel in Tennessee. TDOT will also use the site to communicate updates on the project to stabilize and clear the U.S. 129 slide.

 

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