Polk County US-64 Rockslide Update For February 16

Additional Blasting Scheduled on West Slope 

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The Tennessee Department of Transportation’s emergency contractor, Charles Blalock & Sons, is working today to break-up some of the large boulders located along the river bank and on the boat ramp near TVA Ocoee 2 Dam from the rockslide that occurred on November 10, 2009. The contractor is using explosives to break up some of the large boulders on the bank, some of which were the size of large semi-trucks. Crews are also drilling 60 holes along the slope east of the rockslide site as they prepare for more blasting scheduled for later this week.

 

This weekend, crews continued removing debris from US64 and hauled 110 loads (2200 tons) of material from the project site.

 

On Monday the contractor continued mechanical scaling along the eastern slope using the 275-ton crane and a mini ram-hoe, while a large ram-hoe worked to break up large boulders along the river bank and boat ramp.

 

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. The contractor plans to continue working daylight hours on a seven day a week schedule, weather permitting, until the project is completed. The roadway is scheduled to reopen to traffic on March 31, 2010.

 

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.

###

For More Information Contact:
Jennifer Flynn

TDOT Region 2 Community Relations Officer
423-510-1164