Stabilization Operations Continue on Blount County Rockslide

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Crews will spend the next few days installing and grouting rock bolts that will be used to stabilize the site of a rockslide that failed on March 14 and resulted in the closure of U.S. 129/SR-115. Emergency contractor Pacific Blasting and Demolition Ltd. spent the weekend drilling holes for the rock bolts and as of today, crews have installed 41 of the anchors. Workers should finish grouting the bolts for this section of the slide area on Wednesday. They will also be working Wednesday to hang a second section of wire mesh at the site. Drilling will continue throughout the week for installation of more rock bolts.

 

Contractors continue to keep a close eye on an unstable rock mass that continues to move down the slope over U.S. 129. Crews began pumping water onto the slope Saturday in hopes the water would saturate and lubricate the area and help the rock to continue to crack and break away from the mountainside on its own without blasting. 

 

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  . 

 

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. The Tennessee Department of Transportation emergency contractor remains ahead of schedule.

 

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 more information contact:

Yvette Martinez

TDOT Community Relations Officer

(865)594-0161