Water to be Used to Potentially Break Apart Unstable Rock on U.S. 129 Rockslide Project

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The emergency contractor working to clear a rockslide from U.S. 129/SR-115 in Blount County will use water to help bring down a mass of unstable rock above the roadway. Pacific Blasting and Demolition Ltd. will use a water pump to saturate and lubricate the slope with water in hopes the unstable rock mass will break away from the mountainside and slide to the ground without blasting the area. The unstable rock mass has moved nearly two feet since Wednesday night and could potentially fall at any point. Water pumping is scheduled to begin this weekend. Drilling for trim blasting at the site has stopped until the mass is removed, but repairs continue in other areas at the site.

Drilling is underway in the more stabilized area of the slope where another 11 anchors were drilled this week. Crews are also lacing together wire mesh which was hung on the slope this weekend. The wire mesh will provide another layer of stability to the slope where rock bolts have also been installed.

 

The rockslide repair and stabilization project is 70% complete as contractors remain ahead of schedule.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.