| Ocoee Rockslide Update...copied from TN.gov Newsroom |
 Feb 22, 2010...Work continues to progress on the stabilization and clearing of the rockslide along US64 at Mile Marker 17 in Polk County. Construction crews with TDOT’s emergency contractor on the site, Charles Blalock & Sons, and blasting sub-contractor Dyno Nobel, set off a number of blasts along the eastern side of the slide area this weekend to address the instability of the large 22 ft. diagonal shelf near TVA Ocoee 2 Dam. Today the contractor drilled more holes along the eastern slope in preparation for another round of blasting scheduled for Wednesday. The contractor also continued breaking up large boulders along the river bank for hauling. Today, the workers continued removing debris from the site. Meanwhile, Crews with subcontractor Hayward Baker drilled holes and installed seven 10-ft. long rock bolts and eight 25-ft. long rock bolts along the lower portion of the western slope on Friday and Saturday. The installation of rock bolts continued today along the western side of the slide site. Crews continue to work 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. |