24 Hour Drilling and Rock Bolting Operations Continue
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Work continues to progress on the U.S. 64 rockslide clean-up and stabilization project. Yesterday crews drilled the eastern side of the rock slope and set off the final blast along the slope to remove an unstable rock outcropping. The contractor scaled the slope after the blast to remove the remaining loose rock and debris. Rock bolting crews continue to work
24-hours a day drilling and installing rock bolts throughout the entire slide area. Crews installed more than 500-feet of rock bolts on both Tuesday and Wednesday and are on schedule to meet the April 16 reopening deadline. Workers will continue scaling the rock slope, rock bolting and cleanup operations for the rest of the week and through the weekend.
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 roadway is scheduled to reopen to traffic on April 16, 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 A. Flynn
TDOT Region Two Community Relations Officer
423-510-1164
Jennifer.Flynn@tn.gov
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