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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…]

Rock slide closes I-75 in both directions in Campbell Co.; detours could last weeks

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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, and state officials said motorists should be prepared to use detours and alternate routes for weeks. (Photo courtesy Mark Nagi/TDOT)

 

A rock slide closed the northbound and southbound lanes of Interstate 75 in Campbell County on Friday, and state officials said motorists should be prepared to use detours and alternate routes for weeks.

The rock slide initially closed just the northbound lanes. But on Friday night, the Tennessee Department of Transportation said the interstate was closed in both directions.

There are detours at Mile Marker 160 on I-75 South and at Mile Marker 134 on I-75 North. [Read more…]

I-75 North in Campbell County closed due to rock slide

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The northbound lanes of Interstate 75 are closed in Campbell County due to a rock slide, state officials said Friday afternoon.

Northbound traffic is being diverted at Exit 134 to US 25W and then back to I-75 North at Exit 160 in Jellico, according to the Tennessee Department of Transportation. Traffic between mile markers 134 and 141 is using Exit 141.

Southbound traffic is not affected.

If you are headed north on I-75 and need updates, you can follow TDOT spokesman Mark Nagi on Twitter. Nagi said he will be providing updates throughout the night.

Most significant issue during snow last week was traffic jam on I-75

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Turnpike-Administration-Road-Snow-Plow-Jan-20-2016

Roads in Oak Ridge are becoming slipperier as snow continues to accumulate. Above, an Oak Ridge snow plow is pictured at the intersection of Oak Ridge Turnpike and Administration Road on Wednesday morning, Jan. 20, 2016. Heavy snow continued to fall more than 1.5 hours later. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The most significant issue during the snow and winter weather last week was the closure of Interstate 75 in Campbell County, which caused a long traffic jam on Wednesday, January 20, authorities said.

Traffic was very light Friday evening when the snow started again as most everyone stayed home, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Mark Lucas said.

“As an update on our weather-related calls, from Wednesday, January 20, through Sunday, January 24, we responded to 18 non-injury traffic crashes, two crashes with injury, 12 disabled or abandoned vehicles, and five calls where there were some traffic hazards,” Lucas said. “There were a number of cars in the ditch or that ran off the road where we did not respond due to weather conditions.” [Read more…]

Lane closures on I-75 due to bridge work at SR 61

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Information from WYSH Radio

Mid-State Construction has notified local officials that Interstate 75 under the State Route 61 bridge at exit 122 will be reduced to one lane in each direction, beginning Tuesday, September 8, at 8 p.m. until Wednesday, September 9, at 6 a.m.

This is part of the ongoing bridge repair project that has one lane in each direction on the bridge over the interstate down to one lane in each direction. The project is scheduled for completion by the end of October.

Norris Bulletin provides detour ideas over I-75

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Information from WYSH Radio

With traffic over Interstate 75 on Highway 61 down to one lane in either direction for bridge repair work, drivers can expect delays now through October 31, but our friends at the Norris Bulletin have a couple of alternate routes you may want to consider.

In the Wednesday edition, the Bulletin said westbound drivers can get to the other side of the interstate pretty quickly by taking the back route via Alley Road off the Norris Freeway and then following Hillvale Road all the way to back to Highway 61, adjacent to Harrison’s, Waffle House, and WalMart. The Bulletin said that detour will work for westbound traffic trying to get to I-75 South or to Clinton, but eastbound traffic probably will not get much benefit from that route due to expected backups.

For eastbound drivers, the Bulletin suggested turning left onto Miller Road just before Ray Varner Ford and following that route until reaching Hillvale, where you would then turn left, and proceed to Alley Road back into Norris.

Another option, especially for those living in Andersonville or south on Norris Freeway is to take Mountain Road east across the interstate. To reach Mountain Road from Clinton, take Sinking Springs Road (you can either turn right after crossing the Clinch River Bridge just past the soccer fields and Hammer’s, or continue on to Bland Road) until reaching Irwin Mill Road. Turn right there and proceed to Mountain Road. Turning left on either Bethel Road, Cross Pike, or Norris Freeway will return you to Highway 61.

One dies in single-vehicle crash on I-75

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Note: This story was last updated at 5:15 p.m.

Information from WYSH Radio

One person died in a single-vehicle crash on I-75 South in Anderson County on Tuesday morning, authorities said.

The crash, which was investigated by the Tennessee Highway Patrol, involved a Ford pickup truck, and it occurred at about 6:45 a.m. Tuesday.

WBIR-TV in Knoxville has reported that the driver was Scott Davis, 46, of Jacksboro, Tennessee. [Read more…]

Report: Discarded cigarette starts fire in truck’s cargo area on I-75

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A discarded cigarette that was still lit started a fire in the cargo area of a commercial truck on Interstate 75 on Friday night, authorities said.

The cigarette was discarded by an unknown motorist who threw it out of an unknown vehicle, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Sergeant Steve Owens said in a report. It landed in the cargo area of a 2013 Ford F3D commercial truck owned by Classic Installs of Knoxville and driven by employee Ryan A. Johnson, the report said.

Johnson was driving south on I-75 near mile marker 121, just south of the Clinton exit, when he saw flames coming from the cargo area of his truck. He quickly pulled over to investigate and called for police and fire help at about 10 p.m. Friday. [Read more…]

Letter: Commissioner Isbel asks President Obama to visit Rocky Top

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Tim Isbel

Tim Isbel

Mr. President:

I am writing this letter to respectfully ask for your assistance in the resurgence of a small impoverished coal mining community that was very instrumental in the development of this great nation, during the Industrial Revolution, due to the ability to produce coal. Since the decline of the coal industry, this community has suffered economically and 50 percent of the current population lives below the poverty level.

Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Tim Isbel, the Anderson County commissioner that represents this community of Lake City, Tennessee.

Just over a year ago, the mayor and city council of Lake City and myself set out to change the direction of the city. This city, nestled between Norris Lake and the Cumberland Mountains, has the assets of having two major interchanges off the I-75 corridor, an abundance of uninhabited property, existing infrastructure, and just 25 miles from Knoxville, Tennessee, and Interstate I-40. [Read more…]

THP: Jacksboro man killed in I-75 crash

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Information from WYSH Radio

One person died in a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 75 North in Anderson County on Thursday afternoon.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol responded to the scene just before 3:30 p.m. at exit 129, the Rocky Top (Lake City) exit.

The THP report indicates that a 1998 Ford pickup left the right side of the roadway, traveled into a ditch and flipped, partially ejecting the driver, 29-year-old William Overton of Jacksboro. Troopers say he was not wearing a seatbelt.

Traffic backed up for miles on I-75 after shutdown for fiery crash

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Lifestar on I-75 Vasper Bridge

This picture by Charlotte Underwood is looking straight at the Vasper Bridge on I-75, near the 132 mile marker. The crash site is a bit north of the bridge on the southbound side of I-75, which is a couple of miles south of Caryville’s exit 134. (Photo and information courtesy Charlotte Underwood/1450 WLAF Radio and WLAF-TV 12)

 

A fiery fatal crash that shut down Interstate 75 in Campbell County on Wednesday afternoon has led to miles of backups heading north out of Knoxville and south from Kentucky.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation reports that traffic coming out of Knoxville on northbound Interstate 75 is backed up more than 7.5 miles from exit 129 at Lake City in Anderson County. Information on detours is available by calling 5-1-1.

Meanwhile, southbound traffic on I-75 coming out of Kentucky is backed up more than five miles from exit 134 at Caryville in Campbell County, TDOT said.

TDOT estimated the highway could be clear by 9 p.m. See TDOT’s Twitter feed here. You can also visit TDOT’s Smartmap for more information. [Read more…]

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