CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Crews continue working around the clock to clear State Route 108 at the site of a rockslide in Grundy County. Shortly after midnight CST on Sunday, February 20, a major rockslide occurred on SR-108 near mile marker 24, resulting in the total closure of a portion of the roadway between the towns of Viola in Warren County and Altamont in Grundy County. This section of SR-108 averages approximately 2,050 vehicles per day.
TDOT geologists and other personnel were immediately dispatched to the site to assess the situation. An emergency contract was awarded on February 20, 2011 to Wright Brothers Construction of Charleston, TN. The contractor immediately began work to clear the roadway.
To date, approximately 80% of the estimated 23,000 tons of sandstone rock has been cleared from
the roadway. Remaining work includes removing the rest of the material from the roadway, scaling the slopes to eliminate overhead hazards and repairing the damaged roadway.
Because of the quick and diligent work of the contractor, the estimated date for reopening the road has been revised to Wednesday, March 2 from the original estimate of Sunday, March 13. Until the roadway is reopened, motorists must continue to use the posted detours.
A separate contract will be let early next week for the application of a concrete cover to further stabilize the slope and for placement of final pavement, striping and guardrail. Further lane closures will be necessary in the impacted area, but at least one lane of traffic will be maintained at all times while the work takes place. This project should take approximately four to six weeks to complete.
# # #
For more information contact:
Jennifer A. Flynn
TDOT Region Two Community Relations Officer
Jennifer.Flynn@tn.gov
423-510-1164