I-40 Rock Slide Update

Contractors have installed a pulley system and moved two drills into place on the face of the mountain slope and will drill holes in preparation to begin blasting rock tomorrow afternoon. On the ground, crews continue to break up the largest boulders lying in the road. This work will continue to take place over the next couple weeks.

The N.C. Department of Transportation has established a Web site dedicated to updates and information on the clean up efforts. It can be accessed directly from www.ncdot.gov. People can also sign up for daily updates via Twitter.

The rock slide occurred Oct. 25 on I-40 in North Carolina near the Tennessee line. The slide is about 150 feet high and 200-300 feet wide and the majority of debris is rock.

The N.C. Department of Transportation has hired Phillips & Jordan Inc. of Knoxville, Tenn. and rock stabilization specialist Jonad Contractors of Champion, NY to perform the work.

Travelers can still reach Western North Carolina via a number of routes. An official detour has been set up for inter-state traffic. Motorists traveling west to Tennessee should take I-40 West to I-240 West (Exit 53b) in Asheville to I-26 West (Exit 4a). Follow I-26 West from Asheville to I-81 South (Exit 8a) in Tennessee, back to I-40. Eastbound motorists will follow the reverse directions.

NCDOT reminds motorists to stay alert, travel at non-peak times and use alternate routes when possible. Plan ahead before driving by visiting the NCDOT Traveler Information Management System Web site at www.ncdot.gov/traffictravel/ or calling 511, the state’s free travel information line, for current travel conditions.

NCDOT also provides alerts about traffic congestion, construction work and changes to the ferry schedule on Twitter. To access them, visit www.ncdot.gov/travel/twitter/.

***NCDOT***