Polk County Rockslide on US-64 Update for December 30
Wednesday, December 30, 2009 | 09:08am
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - Construction workers set off a series of explosive charges on Tuesday removing the majority of the remaining unstable rock face on the western side of the main slide area. Mechanical scaling operations, using a mini hoe-ram suspended from a crane platform, worked through today removing the reminder of loose rocks and debris left from the explosive charges while large hoe-rams worked to break up the boulders that are located on the roadway surface.
The contractor plans to resume hauling material off of the site beginning Saturday and extending into next week. The contractor plans to continue his operations from west to the east and is scheduled to reach the eastern side of the main slide within the next five to ten days.
US-64 in Polk County is 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.
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 Monroe 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 Polk County then onto I-75 at Sweetwater in Monroe County.
Motorists may also utilize a route through northern Georgia to travel around the rockslide area. From Copperhill/McCaysville at the Georgia State Line take Georgia Route 5 to U.S. Highway 76 to U.S. Highway 411 north to the Tennessee state line and on into Cleveland.
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) where you can also sign up to receive the weekly US-64 Rockslide newsletter.
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 travel information or follow TDOT on Twitter. For statewide traffic updates follow TN511 or for the Chattanooga area, including updates on the US64 rockslide, follow Chattanooga511.
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.
Mini Hoe-Ram suspended by crane platform scaling western slope
Large Hoe-Ram breaking up slide debris in roadway
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