Polk County US-64 Rockslide Update For December 3

 

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Crews with contractor Charles Blalock & Sons today set off explosive charges on the western portion of the slope in order to remove a seam of unstable rock as part of the overall remediation plan.  The contractor drilled a series of holes through the unstable rock layer to the desired depth, set off the explosive charges, and successfully exposed a stable layer of rock that is less susceptible to future slides.  The contactor plans to continue working from the west side of the slope to the east with drilling and trim blasting operations and will begin hauling away slide debris this week as work progresses to the east. The larger debris will be broken into a manageable size using a hoe-ram, loaded on to dump trucks and removed from the site.

 

Hand scaling, drilling, and trim blasting operations are expected to continue through Sunday as weather permits.

US-64 in Polk County continues to be closed at mile marker 17.6 due to a major rockslide near the Ocoee 2 Dam. A portion of Little Frog Mountain slid into the roadway on November 10, 2009. The project to remove the rockslide debris and repair the roadway is underway and expected to take at least eight weeks. 

 

TDOT is providing a live look at the work underway to clear the rockslide via a time-lapse camera accessible by logging onto TDOT’s US-64 Rockslide web page (http://bit.ly/1Tlc8m). 

 

Motorists traveling to the area from Chattanooga or Cleveland should take I-75 North to Exit 60 (SR-68, Sweetwater) and follow SR-68 South through McMinn County and into Ducktown in Polk County. Those traveling from North Carolina are advised to take US-74 to SR-68 North at Ducktown through McMinn County then onto I-75 at Sweetwater in Monroe County.

 

For more information on TDOT road construction projects visit the TDOT SmartWay web site at http://www.tn.gov/tdot/tdotsmartway/. Travelers may also dial “511” for up to the minute travel information. TDOT is also on Twitter. For traffic information in the Chattanooga area and updates on the U.S. 64 rockslide follow Chattanooga511 on Twitter or follow TN511 for statewide updates.  

 

Motorists are reminded to use all motorist information tools responsibly. Drivers should refrain from texting, tweeting or using a mobile phone while operating a vehicle.  TDOT advises drivers to “Know before you go!” by checking traffic conditions before leaving for your destination.