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.
A rock slide closed the northbound and southbound lanes of Interstate 75 in Campbell County on Friday, February 26, and state officials said at the time that motorists should be prepared to use detours and alternate routes for weeks.
TDOT awarded a $2.9 million emergency contract on Monday, February 29, awarded an emergency contract to repair the rock slide, or slope slide. The slide, which occurred at mile marker 142 in Campbell County, sent vehicle-sized rocks falling onto both the north and southbound lanes of I-75.
Under the emergency contract, Charles Blalock and Sons Inc. is expected to remove the slide debris, stabilize the existing slope, and repair the interstate. The contract also stipulated that the southbound lanes of I-75 would 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.
Until tonight, this section of I-75 will remain closed in both directions. During the closure, all traffic has been detoured. 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.
Motorist Detours (standard vehicles)
- Motorists traveling I-75 South can take Exit 160 (Jellico). Follow US 25W/SR 297 West to SR 63 South, and then re-enter I-75 South.
- Motorists traveling I-75 North can take Exit 134 (Caryville/Lafollette). Follow US 25W north to Lafollette, continuing to Jellico, and then re-enter I-75 North.
Wide-Load and Alternate Motorist Detours
- Wide-load traffic traveling I-75 South can take Exit 29 (Corbin) in Kentucky. Follow US 25E into Tennessee, and enter I-81 at Exit 8 (Morristown/White Pine).
- Wide-load traffic traveling I-75 North can take I-40 East to I-81 North Exit 8 (Morristown/White Pine). Follow US 25E, and enter I-75 at Exit 29 (Corbin) in Kentucky.
From your desktop or mobile device, get the latest construction activity and live streaming SmartWay traffic cameras at www.TNSmartWay.com/Traffic. Travelers can also dial 511 from any land-line or cellular phone for travel information, or follow TDOT on Twitter at www.twitter.com/TN511 for statewide travel.
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