Polk County US-64 Rockslide Update For February 26
Friday, February 26, 2010 | 07:22am
Drilling, Blasting, Hauling and Rock Bolting Progress
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Work continues to progress on the U.S. 64 rockslide removal project. Today and Wednesday, crews set off a series of blasts on the eastern slope and brought down a large amount of rock debris. Today workers also blasted apart large boulders at the base of the mountain. Crews also worked along the western side of the slide grouting rock bolts into place and continued installing rock bolts.
Crews will continue working throughout the weekend to clear debris from the roadway, river bank, and boat ramp; drill the eastern slope for the next round of charges; drill and install rock bolts along the western side of the slope; and break up large rock debris using heavy ram-hoes and excavation equipment.
Work will continue during daylight hours seven days a week. The contractor plans to implement nighttime work for various operations once they can be done safely.
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.
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