Interstate 75 Archives - Oak Ridge Today

WYSH: Crash on I-75 injures four

Posted at 3:06 pm February 28, 2017
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Information from WYSH Radio

Four people were transported to area hospitals following a two-vehicle crash on Interstate 75 South near the Anderson/Campbell County line on Monday night.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol said the crash involving a pickup and a car occurred at around 9 p.m. Monday. Two men and a five-year-old girl were in the Chevy pickup, while a female was the lone occupant of the Hyundai. The two men were flown by Lifestar to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville for treatment of their injuries, while the five-year-old was taken by ambulance after she managed to escape serious injury. The driver of the car was taken by ambulance to LaFollette Medical Center.

The names and conditions of those involved have not been released. [Read more…]

Letter: Motorcyclist thanks medical responders, travelers, THP Trooper Kennedy

Posted at 5:43 pm September 12, 2016
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Note: This letter was submitted by John Such. He was part of the motorcycle group involved in one of the two crashes that injured eight people on Interstate 75 near Rocky Top on Saturday morning.

I was part of the mororcycle group yesterday involved in the crash on I-75. The semi crash happened immediately after the bikes went down. Cars traveling southbound stopped to either look and/or offer assistance to our riders down. The semi that was unable to stop crashed into traffic that had slowed down or stopped.

I can’t thank all those medical responders and travelers who offered hope, encouragement, water—anything they could to comfort all those in need. [Read more…]

Eight injured in motorcycle, car-semi crashes on I-75 in Anderson County

Posted at 7:05 pm September 10, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

ut-lifestar-helicopters-on-i-75-in-anderson-county-sept-20-2016-2

The UT Lifestar II helicopter and Lifestar IV helicopter are pictured at top right and bottom left on Interstate 75 in Anderson County on Saturday morning, Sept. 10, 2016, after one crash involving four motorcycles and another involving a semi and two other vehicles were reported. Authorities said eight people were injured in the two crashes. (Photo courtesy UT Lifestar)

Note: This story was last updated at 12:10 p.m. Sept. 11.

Six people were injured in one crash involving four motorcycles and two more were injured in a second crash involving two vehicles and a semi on Interstate 75 in Anderson County on Saturday morning, authorities said.

The two crashes occurred about 30 minutes apart in the northbound and southbound lanes of I-75 near mile marker 127, near Rocky Top (the former Lake City).

Two University of Tennessee Lifestar medical helicopters responded, and all four lanes were temporarily closed.

The first crash was reported at about 10:16 a.m, according to a Tennessee Highway Patrol preliminary crash report.

Four Harley Davidson motorcycles were traveling north in one lane of I-75 at mile marker 127 when the first motorcycle, a 2003 model driven by George Suver, 70, left the right shoulder and then swerved back into the lane, the THP said. [Read more…]

Traffic alert on I-75 due to bridge repairs, construction work

Posted at 12:57 pm April 28, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

The Tennessee Department of Transportation says bridge repairs and related construction work will require temporary lane closures in Anderson County. The lane changes will be through Thursday, May 5.

Interstate 75 Northbound will be reduced to one lane between Mile Markers 122 and 123 on Thursday, April 28, from 7 p.m. until 6 a.m., and then again on Friday, April 29, from 9 p.m. through Monday, May 2, at 6 a.m.

On Thursday, May 5, I-75 Northbound will be again reduced to one lane between Mile Marker 122 and Mile Marker 123 from 7 p.m. until 6 a.m.

Please expect delays if traveling in this area.

Information from Anderson County Sheriff’s Department

All lanes of I-75 reopen in Campbell County

Posted at 10:02 am April 14, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

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…]

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

Posted at 11:55 am March 24, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

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…]

Updated: Truck driver flown to hospital after semi overturns on I-75 in Anderson County

Posted at 9:28 am March 10, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

FedEx-Truck-Overturned-I-75- March-10-2016

A FedEx truck overturned in the median of Interstate 75 in Anderson County early Thursday, and the driver, who was pinned and had to be extricated, had to be flown by medical helicopter to a hospital. (Photo by Terry Allen/Anderson County Rescue Squad)

Note: This story was last updated at 7 p.m.

An injured truck driver was flown by medical helicopter to a hospital after a semi overturned into the median of Interstate 75 in Anderson County early Thursday, authorities said.

The crash was reported at about 12:15 a.m. Thursday near mile marker 127. Authorities said the injured driver was trapped in the cab of the FedEx truck and had to be extricated. Rescuers were able to remove the driver in 16 minutes.

A University of Tennessee Lifestar medical helicopter flew to the crash site and landed on the interstate at about 12:55 a.m. to pick up the driver, Harrold E. Daniels Jr., 55, of Wilmore, Kentucky, authorities said. Daniels was flown to the UT Medical Center in Knoxville. [Read more…]

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

Posted at 3:59 pm March 9, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

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

Posted at 11:21 am March 8, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

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

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.

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

Posted at 3:15 pm March 2, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

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

Posted at 12:11 pm March 2, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

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

Posted at 3:09 am March 1, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

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…]