U.S. 129 Slide Repair Update for June 15
Tuesday, June 15, 2010 | 11:41am
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Trim blasting to resume on unstable rock mass
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Crews working to clear and stabilize a rockslide site along U.S. 129/SR-115 in Blount County resumed drilling for a future trim blast on an area of unstable rock today. The unstable rock began to move significantly on June 2 as crews drilled in the area. The Tennessee Department of Transportation’s emergency contractor, Pacific Blasting and Demolition Ltd., used water to saturate and lubricate the unstable mass of rock located along the west end of the slope in hopes the mass would fall on its own. At this time, movement of the rock mass is not significant, so crews are using a specialized crane to drill the area from the side to avoid any potential falling rock. Workers also constructed a berm in front of the crane to protect the operator while drilling the unstable area. Once drilling is complete, workers will insert low impact explosives into the mountainside for trim blasting later this week. Multiple blasts may be needed to remove the entire unstable rock area.
Crews continue to lace together a second section of wire mesh which will be used to reinforce the newly stabilized portion of the slide area. The contractor has installed a total of seven panels of wire mesh in two sections. The final section of wire mesh arrived on Saturday.
This weekend, workers drilled new holes to install five new rock bolts into the mountainside. Since the rockslide repairs started in April, 5,925 feet of rock bolts have been drilled, installed and grouted. An estimated 1,575 feet of bolting is expected to complete the stabilization project.
The U.S. 129 rockslide project is estimated to be completed by July 31, 2010. The contractor will earn a $195,000 incentive if the roadway is opened by July 1, 2010.
U.S. 129/SR-115 is closed from just past the Foothills Parkway to the Tabcat Bridge. A short section of U.S. 129 between the Tabcat Bridge and the North Carolina state line, known as “The Dragon”, is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., however no through traffic is allowed at the rockslide site at any time. Detours remain in place to allow motorists to get around the rockslide repair area.
For up to date information on the U.S. 129 rockslide removal/stabilization project, visit the TDOT website at www.tn.gov/tdot/US129Rockslide/default.htm, where you can view a live camera feed of work ongoing at the site as well as video and photos from the project. For the latest video visit http://www.youtube.com/user/TDOTnews .
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