Rockslide Shuts Down Section of US 129 “The Dragon”

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Due to an early morning rockslide in Blount County, part of U.S. 129/State Route 115, known as “The Dragon”, is closed at the site of a rockslide, which occurred approximately nine miles north of the Tennessee-North Carolina state line.

 

TDOT geotechnical engineers have conducted preliminary evaluations of the slide and are currently developing a plan to stabilize the mountainside and re-open the road safely and expeditiously. Cleanup operations are expected to continue into early next week.

 

Drivers of non-commercial vehicles will be allowed to travel the eight-mile stretch from North Carolina into Tennessee up to the overlook near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The section from just south of the Foothills Parkway to the site of the rockslide will remain closed as crews work to remove debris.

 

 

Motorists travelling on U.S. 74 can take State Route 68 north to Ducktown. Continue on SR-68 through Polk and Monroe Counties to I-75 in Sweetwater.

 

Motorists travelling on State Route 143 in North Carolina will continue to travel north onto State Route 165 to Tellico Plains to State Route 68 north to U.S. 411 (State Route 35) toward Maryville.

 

Motorists can also use U.S. 441 to travel through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park into Cherokee, North Carolina. For road closures on U.S. 441 through the Smokies, motorists can call (865) 436-1200.

 

For travel and TDOT construction information, please visit the TDOT SmartWay web site at www.tn.gov/tdot/tdotsmartway, or call 511 from any land-line or cellular phone.  You can also receive traffic alerts via TDOT’s multiple Twitter feeds, including statewide traffic tweets. Smart phone users can use the TDOT SmartWay Mobile website at http://m.tdot.tn.gov/SmartWay/ to access TDOT’s SmartWay cameras and information on construction related lane closures and incidents on interstates and state routes.