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[williamadamsesq]

Crews work to clear rockslides, entire Dragon closed
WBIR.com Updated: 3/19/2010 11:32:47 PM Posted: 3/19/2010 11:36:22 AM



Across East Tennessee, crews are working to clear rock slides that are blocking roadways ranging from a Smokies scenic highway to several access routes into North Carolina.

The rock slide blocking U.S. 129 south of Chilhowee Dam has led state transportation officials to close the entire Tennessee side of the stretch known as the Dragon, a popular 11-mile route featuring 318 curves that is very popular with motorcyclists.

The slide occurred Sunday morning. The DOT is working to complete a plan to stabilize the slide and finalize a contract to begin clearing it, but a time line for repairs has not been set.

In a news release from the DOT, officials said law enforcement and emergency crews will have very limited emergency access to the Dragon. That would prompt concerns about response to any motorcycle crashes.

"Some weekends during the busy season, sometimes we respond to wrecks on the Dragon three or four times a day," said Bill Hitch with the Blount County Rescue Squad. "Right now I don't know of another route to get to someone if there was an accident on the Dragon other than going to North Carolina and driving back down US 129. It already took us 45 minutes to get up the Dragon without a rock slide."

Detour routes to avoid the U.S. 129 slide will take drivers through Tellico Plains, Ducktown or over Newfound Gap.

In southeast Tennessee, TDOT said progress continues to stabilize two separate rock slides along U.S. 64 despite weather delays. Officials now estimate that roadway will reopen by April 16, weather permitting.

The most recent rock slide in the region occurred Thursday morning on the west end of Little River Road in the Smokies.

In a release, Great Smoky Mountains National Park managers said they executed a contract with Harrision Construction Division of APAC Atlantic, Inc to repair

Managers hope the road will be ready to re-open by Sunday evening, barring additional complications.

North Carolina DOT crews also continue their work to clear a rock slide blocking Interstate 40 near the Tennessee state line.

[scarabY2k]

Woot! Good news indeed!! I pray that weather will be on the side of the DOT and it's construction crews

[akasha1963]

I saw this on the news here in Nashville and yelled at my room mate "thats where the Tail of the Dragon is! NO!!"

This is great news though. I hadnt seen anything on it since.

[HarlequinPixie]

oof. not a good year for rock slides over there. that last one they mentioned was months ago and still isn't clear..

[Cooky]

hea guys not to be a bummer but it has changed.

Released on Mon, Mar 29, 2010

Pacific Blasting Demolition Ltd. submitted the low bid of $1.99million. Crews with Pacific Blasting are beginning to mobilize equipment and personnel and will begin work on the complex slide removal and stabilization project no later than April 5, 2010.


The rockslide project on U.S. 129/SR-115 is estimated to be completed by July 31, 2010. However, TDOT is providing an incentive of $6,500 per day for the contractor to complete work and reopen the roadway before July 31, 2010. If the project is totally complete by July 1, 2010 the contractor will receive the full incentive of $195,000. Failure to complete the project and reopen the roadway by July 31 will result in a disincentive of $6,500 per day until work is completed.

Full article here

Emergency Contract Awarded for U.S. 129 Rockslide Repairs | TN.gov Newsroom

I hope to hear you guys will redo the date because i work about 5 min from the turn off please let me know the dates and i will see if i can get a way for the day or something.

[Cameron_Talley]

Check out Dealsgap.com. Supposedly a deal has been struck to open the Dragon soon.

There's no way we are changing the date, it's been set in stone. If the Dragon's closed we will run other roads in the area.

[andrea_cw]

It's been a crazy year in the GSMNP! Record snowfalls, now rockslides...I really hope everything works out for you guys. Wish I could go to ToD! lol I've been on Little River Road many times, *sigh*...love the Smokies.

[akasha1963]

Routs around the rockslide - Google Maps

[raff]

It looks like this coming Monday 4/12 is the opening date everyone is aiming for.


From the Deals Gap website:
Tuesday April 6

Email I just got folks, we are close to getting this done, looks like not till monday but will see if we can work hard to get it done faster.

Tennessee Senator Overbey & North Carolina Senator Snow,

The department is eager to open this facility and we believe that we will have everything on the Tennessee side ready to allow opening the road from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM 7 days a week beginning next Monday, April 12, 2010.

As a follow up to our recent discussions regarding the partial opening of US 129 to traffic, the department seeks your assistance in clarifying some issues that emergency service providers in Tennessee have brought to our attention.

First, the department has been successful in working with the Tennessee Highway Patrol to provide law enforcement on the closed section of US 129 between 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM, 7 days per week until the slide can be cleared and the roadway opened. The department has been able to secure approval from the FHWA to pay for the THP overtime required through federal emergency relief funds. The plan will be to provide at a minimum 2 patrol units between the slide and the state line between 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM. This source of funding are not available for emergency medical services.

We will also be putting signage on US 129 at the State line entering Tennessee, advising motorist that there will be limited emergency medical services on the dead end section of road.

The final issue that we are trying to address is that of emergency services for personal injury crashes that law enforcement and EMS entities in Blount County have brought to our attention. Your assistance in getting a commitment from Graham County, North Carolina to provide EMS coverage is much appreciated.

Prior to the slide, 911 calls in his area would come to the Blount County EMS. The crashes would first be responded to by THP or the Blount County Sheriff. They in turn would contact the local fire department who would decide, based on conversations with law enforcement, what kind of EMS to send to the site (ambulance only, or ambulance and extraction units). Injured motorist would then be driven or life flighted to trauma facilities in Blount or Knox Counties. Response times to crashes in this vicinity were on the order of 1 hour.

The department does not expect response times to be identical to pre-slide time frames, however, we feel that we need to have a reasonable expectation of what to expect under this proposal from North Carolina to provide emergency medical services. Emergency service providers in Blount County are particularly concerned in this regard. It is our understanding that Graham County, North Carolina EMS has a response time somewhat longer than the 1 hour from the Tennessee side and that no trauma facilities exist near the North Carolina side of the slide and the nearest trauma center is located in Ashville, a considerable distance away. We also understand that Graham County EMS has very limited equipment and may not be able to assist in a timely fashion when the need arises.

We are seeking a plan from North Carolina that lays a strategy for addressing emergency medical services. We feel that they need to provide the State of Tennessee with a plan that provides a schedule and a identifies equipment and resources available to provide emergency medical services (ambulance and extraction) to this section of road.

With this information, the department can ensure a safe transportation facility to the users of US 129.

The department will continue to work diligently to reopen the road due to the slide as soon as possible.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation seeks a response to this request as soon as possible.

Please feel free to contact me at Paul.Degges@tn.gov or by phone at (615) 741-0791.

Paul D. Degges, P.E.
Assistant Commissioner/Chief Engineer
Tennessee Department of Transportation

[Cooky]

ok i kno that this is a stuoid question but i cant fine the dates so could some one repost them thanks

[Cameron_Talley]

Originally Posted by Cooky

ok i kno that this is a stuoid question but i cant fine the dates so could some one repost them thanks

MAY 1st/First Saturday of May.

[Cooky]

I have a friend that know a way around it and it is a great drive throught the Cherohala Skyway it is a long drive but it sounds like a great drive. He said if we needed him to he could show us around.


Just a thought
Cooky

[raff]

Today's news -
The Dragon is open but the roacklside is still present.

Here's today's news from Deal's Gap website:

Monday April 12

Good Morning Folks

Yes "The Dragon" reopened this morning at 8am Sharp. Thanks TDOT for being right there with the key.

Hours of operation for "The Dragon" will be 8am until 8pm 7 days a week until TDOT determines if and when they can open just one lane for traffic to pass into the rest of TN. I will keep up with the TDOT folks and keep you up to date on how that is going.

For pictures of the Gap as it opened today check out our facebook page. I will also post a video latter today.

THP is in "The Dragon" as well, one or two patrols will be in and out all day, they are not here to crush anyone just want to ensure everyone goes home safe, happy and on there bike not in the back of the ambulance, helicopter or worse. All the rumors about a THP every 10 feet or they will write you 10 tickets for anything they can find is 100% horse crap. Those folks have nothing better to do but make up this stuff so you will go to there web site. Pathetic if you ask me. A lot of agencies in TN and NC worked very hard to get this done so thanks to all of them.
__________________

[raff]

Originally Posted by Cooky

I have a friend that know a way around it and it is a great drive throught the Cherohala Skyway it is a long drive but it sounds like a great drive. He said if we needed him to he could show us around.


Just a thought
Cooky

Here's the Saturday itinerary beginning at Bryson City NC:

The link below opens a copy of our route.

Leaving Bryson City South on 74/19 to Rte 28 North past Fontana Dam to the Dragon.

After running the Dragon (north & then south) I'm sure we'll pause at Deal's Gap (just like last year) for snacks, souvenirs, etc, etc.

Still heading south on Rte 129 towards Robbinsville we'll reach the Cherohala Skyway (Rte 143)and head west. (note: we will not go through Robbinsville at this time so plan ahead for necessities)

At the end of the Skyway we'll make a loop through Tellico Plains, Madisonville, Vonore and back to the Skyway for the return to Robbinsville, then onto 143 and 28 to Bryson City