Slide Closes Interstate 24 East in Davidson County

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Department of Transportation crews have a long-term closure in place on Interstate 24 eastbound in northwest Davidson County, where a landslide at mile marker 42 occurred at approximately 10 p.m. on Saturday, February 23.

Traffic on I-24 eastbound is currently being diverted onto Old Hickory Boulevard at Exit 40 to I-65 or Briley Parkway.

The full scope of necessary slope repairs will not be known until material can be cleared from the slide site. A TDOT contractor is preparing to begin this process, but due to the unstable conditions around the area, the work will likely be slow going.

While TDOT cannot give a firm estimate for re-opening at this time, the department advises drivers to plan for the closure to be in place at least a week. Once a repair schedule is confirmed, TDOT will provide updated information.

Slides and Rockfalls in Tennessee

• Because of the geological and soil conditions, as well as general terrain, slides and rockfalls are common in Middle and East Tennessee.
• Common triggers for slides and rockfalls are extended periods of wet weather and/or the freezing and thawing of water, and they typically occur in winter and early spring.
• Potential slides and rockfalls are nearly impossible to predict with any accuracy.
• TDOT budgets $3 million annually to address rockfall and slide issues, and often seeks federal disaster assistance to assist in covering the cost of major slides or rockfalls.

###