U.S. 129 Slide Repair Update for June 22

 

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee Department of Transportation emergency contractor Pacific Blasting & Demolition Ltd. continues to drill on an area that has become a trouble spot in the rockslide repairs on U.S. 129/SR-115. Crews are drilling holes in an unstable rock mass that continues to move, but has not fallen off the slope. Low impact explosives will be put into the holes for another trim blast of the area. Last week's trim blast removed more than 2,100 tons of rock. However, a large section of unstable rock continues to hang over the roadway.

 

Meanwhile, workers have drilled, installed and grouted 7,500 feet of rock bolts to stabilize the mountainside which should complete the rock bolt installation phase of the rockslide repairs. Crews will also hang the third section of wire mesh today and tomorrow. They will spend the rest of the week lacing together the sections of wire mesh which will be used to add another layer of stabilization to the mountainside. All the wire mesh outside of the west end slide area is expected to be finished by the end of next week.  

 

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 trim blast video visit http://www.youtube.com/user/TDOTnews  

 

 

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