Oak Ridge Public Works Department Archives

Heavy rain causes flooding, high water

Posted at 1:22 pm February 12, 2019
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

East Fork Poplar Creek is flooded near South Illinois Avenue as heavy rain falls continuously on Tuesday morning, Feb. 12, 2019. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Heavy, continuous rain on Tuesday caused flooding on roadways and high waters in creeks.

Coal Yard Road in east Oak Ridge is closed due to flooding, the City of Oak Ridge said.

Water pooled on other roads was causing large puddles, and some drivers were driving around that water.

The Oak Ridge Public Works Department encouraged drivers to slow down and watch for water as minor flooding was reported in Oak Ridge.

“Heavy, continuous rain has created hazardous driving conditions,” the City of Oak Ridge said. [Read more…]

City put brine on roads to prepare for winter weather

Posted at 8:52 pm January 28, 2019
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The Oak Ridge Public Works Department said snow plows are ready if needed, and crews put brine on the roads on Monday, Jan. 28, 2019, in an effort to reduce impacts on driving conditions from the winter weather forecast to start overnight Monday and continuing into Tuesday morning. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

The Oak Ridge Public Works Department said snow plows are ready if needed, and crews put brine on the roads on Monday, Jan. 28, 2019, to try to reduce the impact on driving conditions from the winter weather that is forecast to start overnight Monday and continue into Tuesday morning. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

The Oak Ridge Public Works Department put brine on roads on Monday to try to reduce the effect that winter weather might have on driving conditions. Snow plows are ready, and the Oak Ridge Police Department and Oak Ridge Fire Department are preparing by bringing in extra emergency response staff, the City of Oak Ridge said.

Snow is possible, and temperatures are expected to plunge in the Oak Ridge area on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to the seven-day forecast by the National Weather Service in Morristown.

The snow is expected starting overnight Monday and continuing into Tuesday morning. The low on Wednesday night is forecast at 9 degrees Fahrenheit. [Read more…]

Pavement patching under way in Oak Ridge

Posted at 11:06 pm September 19, 2018
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Pavement patching and repairs are under way across Oak Ridge, and the work is expected to continue during the next three months, a press release said.

The work is being done by PRI of East Tennessee Inc., working under contract for the City of Oak Ridge.

The repairs are part of an effort to assist the Oak Ridge Public Works Department street crews with a backlog of approximately 140 open work orders for pavement repairs associated with water main breaks, the press release said. More than half of the repairs needed are the result of the more than 80 water main breaks from January 2018. [Read more…]

Household hazardous waste collection in Oak Ridge on Sept. 15

Posted at 4:14 pm September 5, 2018
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The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s mobile household hazardous waste collection service will be in Anderson, Monroe, Montgomery, and Putnam counties on Saturday, September 15. The Anderson County collection will be in Oak Ridge.

“Our goal is to provide a convenient and no-cost option for residents to responsibly dispose of hazardous material to help protect Tennessee’s waterways, land and air from impacts by these common items,” said TDEC Commissioner Shari Meghreblian.

Any Tennessee resident is encouraged to bring their household hazardous waste—including cleaning fluids, pesticides, batteries, and more—to the designated drop-off locations, a press release said. You do not need to live in the county listed to participate in the event. (Note that hours listed indicate the local time.) [Read more…]

Tennessee Avenue road reconstruction update

Posted at 9:58 am August 30, 2018
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Submitted

The Oak Ridge Public Works Department is providing a revised update on the Tennessee Avenue reconstruction project. Temporary closure of the Tyler Road intersection with West Tennessee Avenue will now begin on Tuesday, September 4, 2018, after the Labor Day weekend. (It was originally planned to begin this week.)

As the Public Works Department announced last week, phase one of the project will need to be extended just past Tyler Road, instead of Michigan Avenue. Adams and Sons Inc., the city’s contractor for the project, has advised that the intersection will remain closed for approximately one week. Traffic will be directed around the affected area.

Once the waterline replacement portion is complete, the intersection will be re-opened. After the water main installation is completed, reconstruction of the roadway will commence. [Read more…]

Motorcyclist airlifted to UT after crashing into power pole

Posted at 9:54 am August 8, 2018
By John Huotari 3 Comments

A motorcyclist was flown to a Knoxville hospital in a medical helicopter with what were described as serious injuries after crashing into a power pole on West Outer Drive on Wednesday morning, Aug. 8, 2018. authorities said. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Note: This story was updated at 2:50 p.m.

A 20-year-old motorcyclist was flown to a Knoxville hospital in a medical helicopter with what were described as serious injuries after crashing into a power pole on West Outer Drive on Wednesday morning, authorities said.

The single-vehicle crash, which was a few blocks east of North Illinois Avenue in an area with a curve and a hill, was reported at about 7:10 a.m. Wednesday. The motorcycle was heading west when it left the roadway and struck a utility pole, according to the Oak Ridge Police Department.

After the crash, the male motorcyclist was airlifted to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville from Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge, said Eric Rackard, battalion chief for the Oak Ridge Fire Department. [Read more…]

Tennessee Avenue road work to continue into fall

Posted at 9:17 pm July 27, 2018
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The road work on Tennessee Avenue near Methodist Medical Center is expected to continue into the fall, Oak Ridge officials said Friday.

The contractor, Adams and Sons Inc., is rebuilding a portion of Tennessee Avenue beginning east of New York Avenue down to the intersection with Michigan Avenue.

“The Oak Ridge Public Works Department is using this project as an opportunity to replace the existing 1940s-era water main along Tennessee Avenue, in addition to making curb, gutter, and sidewalk repairs,” a City of Oak Ridge press release said.

The new water line is being installed from west to east and the first section has already been placed in service, the press release said. Work has progressed to an area near Methodist Medical Center, which is approximately the halfway point for the water main. [Read more…]

Temporary lane closure on Oak Ridge Turnpike this week

Posted at 8:54 pm July 22, 2018
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One lane of a short section of Oak Ridge Turnpike will be closed this week.

“Southern Contractors Inc., working under contract to the City of Oak Ridge, will have the outside eastbound lane of Oak Ridge Turnpike from Lafayette Drive to East Division Road closed starting Monday, July 23, at 7 a.m.,” a press release said.

The work is necessary to set new forms along the roadways as part of the Intersection Improvement Project, and it is expected to last until the evening of Wednesday, July 25, the press release said. [Read more…]

Tennessee Avenue reconstruction project to start Tuesday

Posted at 7:35 am May 29, 2018
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A road reconstruction project affecting Tennessee Avenue is scheduled to begin today (Tuesday, May 29), city officials said.

Adams and Sons Inc., working under contract for the City of Oak Ridge, will reconstruct a section of Tennessee Avenue beginning 400 feet east of its intersection with New York Avenue down to its intersection with Michigan Avenue, a press release said.

The contractor’s notice to proceed became effective Monday, May 21, and onsite activity was expected to begin after that, with construction signs placed earlier.

“The Public Works Department will use this project as an opportunity to replace the existing 1940s-era water main along Tennessee Avenue, in addition to making curb, gutter, and sidewalk repairs,” the press release said. [Read more…]

One person dies in crash on Melton Lake Drive

Posted at 9:49 am May 28, 2018
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

One person died in a two-vehicle crash on Melton Lake Drive near the rowing course finish line on Sunday, May 27, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

One person died in a two-vehicle crash on Melton Lake Drive near the rowing course finish line on Sunday night, May 27, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

One person died in a head-on collision on Melton Lake Drive on Sunday night, authorities said.

The two-vehicle crash was reported at about 11:23 p.m. Sunday just south of the tower at the Oak Ridge rowing course finish line. It involved a sport utility vehicle and a Comcast utility bucket truck.

The cause of the crash is under investigation, but it appears that the SUV crossed the center line, striking the Comcast truck head-on, according to Oak Ridge Police Department Sergeant Jeremy Huddleston.

Authorities reported that a female driver died in the crash. Huddleston said the other driver was taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville and released. [Read more…]

Road conditions still bad, police say; Y-12 closed

Posted at 8:55 am January 17, 2018
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

An Oak Ridge Public Works Department snow truck is pictured on South Illinois Avenue on Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 16, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Note: This story was last updated at 11:15 p.m.

Update: Driving conditions on main roads and side streets in Oak Ridge seemed to have improved by about 5 p.m. Wednesday, although there were still patches of ice and snow, including in shopping center parking lots.

Wednesday evening, the Oak Ridge Police Department said conditions had improved on main roads, but side streets were still extremely slick. Drivers should use extra caution if they have to get out tonight. There could be some refreezing on the roads overnight with the low temperatures. Oak Ridge Schools will be closed again on Thursday, January 18, due to the conditions.

A few inches of snow fell Tuesday, and road conditions are still bad Wednesday morning, especially in the city’s neighborhoods, the Oak Ridge Police Department said. The Y-12 National Security Complex and the Uranium Processing Facility offices are closed.

Oak Ridge Public Works Department crews are out clearing and treating the roads.

“If you must go out, please use extreme caution,” the ORPD said.

Y-12 said normal operations will resume Thursday, January 18. [Read more…]

City crews work on 35 water line breaks this month

Posted at 11:29 pm January 8, 2018
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

An Oak Ridge Public Works Department crew repairs a broken water line underneath Northwestern Avenue near Nevada Circle at lunchtime Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018. The crew here is supervised by Oak Ridge Public Works Department Utility Line Maintenance Crew Chief Michael Brown. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Oak Ridge crews have responded to 35 water main breaks since January 1, an average of about five per day, City Manager Mark Watson told City Council members on Monday.

There could be more water line breaks as the temperature warms, Watson said.

The city is plotting the water line breaks on a map for more comprehensive repairs.

Cast-iron water pipes can break when the ground shifts as it freezes and then thaws in cold winter weather. [Read more…]