Oak Ridge Today

All lanes of I-75 reopen in Campbell County

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I-75 Northbound Lanes Campbell County April 13 2016

Tennessee Department of Transportation contract crews on Wednesday, April 13, 2016, reopened a second lane of travel on Interstate 75 North near mile marker 142 in Campbell County after cleaning up a February 26 rockslide that initially shut down both the northbound and southbound lanes. (Photo courtesy Mark Nagi of TDOT via Twitter)

 

Tennessee Department of Transportation contract crews on Wednesday reopened a second lane of travel on Interstate 75 North near mile marker 142 in Campbell County. All lanes, both northbound and southbound, are now open.

The opening is ahead of schedule, following a rockslide on February 26 that initially forced the closure of the entire interstate. An emergency contract set a schedule for the repairs and allowed all southbound lanes to be reopened on March 9. A single northbound lane was reopened two weeks later on March 24.

While all lanes of travel are now open, a work zone remains off the roadway as crews continue to remove debris and stabilize the existing slope. This work is anticipated to last until the end of May. Motorists are encouraged to use extra caution, especially while workers are present. [Read more…]

Public Notice: City of Oak Ridge Emergency Solutions Grant Subrecipient Application Package

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CITY OF OAK RIDGE

EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT (ESG)

SUBRECIPIENT APPLICATION

PACKAGE PY2016-FY2017

(JULY 1, 2016 – JUNE 30, 2017)

The City of Oak Ridge’s Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funds must be used to accomplish the following Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA) and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) objectives:

  • To help improve the quality of emergency shelters for homelessness;
  • To help meet the costs of operating and maintaining emergency shelters;
  • To provide essential services so that homeless individuals have access to the assistance they need to improve their situation;
  • To provide street outreach services to the homeless; and
  • To provide emergency intervention assistance and rapid re-housing services to prevent homelessness and to obtain permanent housing.

The application seeks to aid interested, public (social) service sub-recipients whose goals align with local priorities and also demonstrate the ability to meet the following requirements as outlined in the grant application. The total amount awarded to any applicant shall not exceed $46,697.24: [Read more…]

Updated: McNally to seek Senate speakership

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Randy McNally

Randy McNally

Note: This story was updated at 9:30 a.m. March 25.

Tennessee Senator Randy McNally, an Oak Ridge Republican, will seek to become the next speaker of the Senate.

If elected, McNally would replace Lieutenant Governor Ron Ramsey, a Blountville Republican who recently announced he is not seeking re-election.

McNally, a longtime legislator, is chair of the Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee.

“I want to thank Ron Ramsey for his tremendous leadership over these last 10 years,” McNally said in a Thursday press release. “If elected speaker, I will continue to support an independent state Senate, and I will remain committed to keeping taxes low, while maintaining the financial integrity of our state that benefits all Tennesseans.”

In the press release, McNally said he plans to spend his summer and fall working with Ramsey to help Tennessee Republicans maintain and grow their strong majority in the state Senate. [Read more…]

Rockslide work continues, but one lane re-opens on I-75 North in Campbell Co.

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I-75 North Campbell County March 24 2016

The Tennessee Department of Transportation re-opened one lane of traffic on Interstate 75 North in Campbell County on Thursday morning, March 24, 2016. (Photo courtesy Mark Nagi via Twitter)

 

Work continues on rockslide at Mile Marker 142

The Tennessee Department of Transportation re-opened one lane of traffic on Interstate 75 North in Campbell County on Thursday morning. Both lanes had been closed since February 26 due to a rockslide that occurred at Mile Marker 142.

TDOT said one lane will remain closed on I-75 North. Work continues in the area as crews remove slide debris, stabilize the existing slope, and repair the interstate. The entire repair project is scheduled to be complete on or before April 15.

One northbound lane remains closed. I-75 reduces to one lane starting at MM 141.

TDOT spokesperson Mark Nagi reported that traffic was moving smoothly on Thursday morning. [Read more…]

Controlled burns scheduled on DOE Oak Ridge Reservation

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Controlled burns of grassland areas are scheduled starting this week and continuing through April at East Tennessee Technology Park and Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

The controlled burns were announced by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Office.

Beginning this week and continuing through April, the controlled burns will take place, weather permitting, at: [Read more…]

Council to consider applying for state grant for synthetic turf at Blankenship

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Wildcats Tee Higgins Catch against Campbell County Oct. 30, 2015

The Oak Ridge City Council on Monday will consider applying for a state grant worth up to $500,000 to install synthetic turf at Blankenship Field. Pictured above, Oak Ridge junior wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) hauls in a catch near the left sideline during a 45-6 win over Campbell County on Blankenship Field on Friday, Oct. 30, 2015. (File photo by Julio Culiat)

 

The Oak Ridge City Council on Monday will consider applying for a state grant worth up to $500,000 to install synthetic turf at Blankenship Field. It’s the first phase of a multi-million-dollar proposal to renovate Blankenship Field and Jack Armstrong Stadium.

The application that City Council will consider is a Local Parks and Recreation Fund grant from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. The grant requires a 50 percent match, which would be provided by the nonprofit Blankenship Field Revitalization Foundation. The requested grant funding could range between $250,000 and $500,000.

The Local Parks and Recreation Fund, or LPRF, grant provides state funding for parks and recreation development and capital projects, said Jon Hetrick, Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks director. It requires the facility to be maintained as a public recreational facility and open to the public. Grant reports must be filed with the state every five years to document ongoing use as a public recreational facility. [Read more…]

ATVs could be allowed on Highway 25W in Rocky Top starting in July

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Rocky-Top-City-Seal

The Tennessee General Assembly passed legislation to amend current law that would allow for all-terrain vehicles, or ATVs, to ride on Highway 25W in Rocky Top from the intersection of Colonial Lane to the intersection at Jacksboro Avenue beginning July 1, 2016.

“Current legislation allows for ATVs to be operated on State Route 116 from Beech Grove to Highway 25,” said Mike Lovely, Rocky Top mayor. “This amendment would extend the riding area and allow riders from Windrock Park to access the commerce area of Rocky Top.”

Windrock Park is the largest privately owned off-road recreation area in the country with more than 72,000 acres that include off-highway vehicle trails, hiking trails, and mountain biking trails, a press release said. It is also home to the Buffalo Mountain Wind Farm, which is comprised of 18 windmills. [Read more…]

I-75 South to re-open tonight at rock slide in Campbell County, TDOT says

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I-75-Rock-Slide-Campbell-County-Feb-28-2016-III

A significant slope slide occurred near Mile Marker 142 on I-75 North in Campbell County on Friday, February 26, 2016. Currently, all lanes are closed in both the northbound and southbound directions. (Photo courtesy TDOT/Mark Nagi via Twitter)

 

Both lanes of southbound Interstate 75 will open tonight (Wednesday, March 9) at the rock slide site in Campbell County, a state official said.

The southbound lanes will open at about 9 p.m., said Mark Nagi, spokesperson for the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

I-75 North remains closed. One lane in that direction will open on or before March 24, Nagi said. [Read more…]

TDOT: I-75 lane re-openings still on schedule near rock slide

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I-75-Rock-Slide-Campbell-County-Feb-28-2016-I

A significant slope slide occurred near Mile Marker 142 on I-75 North in Campbell County on Friday, February 26, 2016. Currently, all lanes are closed in both the northbound and southbound directions. (Photo courtesy TDOT/Mark Nagi via Twitter)

 

Information from WYSH Radio

The Tennessee Department of Transportation says the southbound lanes of Interstate 75 at the site of last month’s rock slide in Campbell County are still on schedule to be re-opened on or before Thursday, March 17.

One northbound lane at the slide site could be reopened a week after that, just in time for Easter weekend traffic, and the entire project to repair the damage caused by the massive slide remains April 15.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

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TDOT photos, videos of rock slide on I-75 in Campbell County

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I-75-Rock-Slide-Campbell-County-Feb-28-2016-I

A significant slope slide occurred near Mile Marker 142 on I-75 North in Campbell County on Friday, February 26, 2016. Currently, all lanes are closed in both the northbound and southbound directions. (Photo courtesy TDOT/Mark Nagi via Twitter)

 

A significant slope slide occurred near Mile Marker 142 on I-75 North in Campbell County on Friday, February 26.

Currently, all lanes are closed in both the northbound and southbound directions between the Caryville and Jellico exits.

The video below is from the Tennessee Department of Transportation from Monday, February 29. It shows just how much debris has made its way onto the road. Rocks continue to drop all the way to the median, and some ended up on the southbound lanes as well, according to TDOT.

[Read more…]

Trucks overturn in Anderson, Knox early Wednesday; roadways have re-opened

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I-640-Overturned-Tanker

The I-75 South ramp to I-640 East was closed Wednesday morning due to an overturned tractor trailer. (Photo courtesy TDOT/Mark Nagi via Twitter)

A tractor-trailer and a tanker truck overturned in Anderson and Knox counties on Wednesday morning, causing some temporary closures on roadways that have since re-opened.

The tanker truck crash was reported in Anderson County shortly after 5 a.m. Wednesday on Interstate 75 at Mile Marker 120, authorities said. The truck went into the median and was leaking fuel from the tanker.

The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department responded along with the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Anderson County EMS, Anderson County Rescue Squad, and Andersonville Fire Department. Anderson County Emergency Management was called to the scene to assess the fuel spill, and the Tennessee Department of Transportation also brought resources to contain and clean up the spill, authorities said. [Read more…]

TDOT awards emergency contract for I-75 rock slide repair in Campbell County

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Campbell-County-Rock-Slide-I-75-Feb-26-2016

A rock slide closed the northbound and southbound lanes of Interstate 75 in Campbell County on Friday, Feb. 26, 2016, and state officials said motorists should be prepared to use detours and alternate routes for weeks. (Photo courtesy Mark Nagi/TDOT)

 

The Tennessee Department of Transportation on Monday awarded an emergency contract to repair a rockslide on Interstate 75 in Campbell County. The slide, which occurred Friday at mile marker 142, sent vehicle-sized rocks falling onto both the north and southbound lanes of I-75.

The $2.9 million contract was awarded to Charles Blalock and Sons Inc. The contract includes removal of the slide debris, stabilization of the existing slope, and repairs to the interstate. The contract also stipulates the southbound lanes of I-75 will be reopened within 14 days, and one lane on the northbound side within 21 days. The entire repair project is scheduled to be complete on or before April 15, 2016.

Currently, this section of I-75 remains closed in both directions. During the closure, all traffic will be detoured, TDOT said in a press release. Message boards are already in place on I-75 to alert motorists to the road closure. Drivers are advised to plan ahead and seek alternate routes. [Read more…]