Oak Ridge Today

Several roads closed Tuesday, maybe Wednesday for road, utility work

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Several roads will be closed near Oak Ridge High School on Tuesday, July 26, 2016, and possibly Wednesday, July 27, for roadway and utility work, officials said. (Image by City of Oak Ridge)

Several roads will be closed near Oak Ridge High School on Tuesday, July 26, 2016, and possibly Wednesday, July 27, for roadway and utility work, officials said. (Image by City of Oak Ridge)

 

Note: This road closure notice has been updated. See newer story here.

Several roads will be closed near Oak Ridge High School on Tuesday and possibly Wednesday for roadway and utility work, officials said.

The roads will be closed for work by the Oak Ridge Public Works Department and Oak Ridge Electric Department. The closures will allow crews to patch a strip of the road on Pennsylvania Avenue and reset a utility pole on the island at the junction of the following roads: Pennsylvania Avenue from Hillside Road to Vermont Avenue, the east end of Pasadena Road, North Tulane, and the west end of Passmore Lane, a press release said. [Read more…]

Photo: Water utility work before mall demolition at Main Street Oak Ridge

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Oak Ridge Public Works Main Street Oak Ridge Water Line July 14 2016 Full

The Oak Ridge Public Works Department cuts and plugs an unused fire line near the former Sears store at the former Oak Ridge Mall on Thursday, July 14, 2016. The work is being done in preparation for the demolition of the former mall, which will be replaced by Main Street Oak Ridge, a 58-acre mixed-use development. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was updated at 1:15 p.m.

The Oak Ridge Public Works Department was cutting and plugging an unused fire line near the former Sears store at the former Oak Ridge Mall on Thursday morning, preparing for the demolition of the former mall and construction of Main Street Oak Ridge, the 58-acre mixed-use redevelopment that will replace it.

About 4,000 feet of construction fencing was put up Tuesday and Wednesday around the unused enclosed space between the mall’s two remaining anchors, Belk and JCPenney. That fencing was erected before the start of demolition, which could start next week, according to RealtyLink, the Greenville, South Carolina, company redeveloping the property.

A groundbreaking has been scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 20.

Water meters on unused lines or areas of the mall that are being demolished were disconnected on Monday and Tuesday at the request of the developer, said Rick Irwin, Oak Ridge Public Works operations and maintenance manager. [Read more…]

Water main break damages West Outer Drive

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Water Main Break at West Outer and Mississippi July 5 2016

A water main break damaged West Outer Drive near Mississippi Avenue on Tuesday, July 5, 2016, officials said. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

 

A water main break damaged West Outer Drive near Mississippi Avenue on Tuesday, officials said.

On Wednesday, the Oak Ridge Public Works Department urged residents and visitors to use “extreme care and caution” while driving in that area.

In order to repair the water main break on Tuesday night, extensive damage was caused to the roadway, a press release said. [Read more…]

City will clean sewer lines near restaurants this month, could cause traffic delays

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The Oak Ridge Public Works Department will clean sewer lines near restaurants during the next two weeks, and the work could cause traffic delays because roads and intersections could be temporarily closed, officials said.

The work is scheduled during the weeks of March 7 and March 14.

“Please use extreme caution and allow extra time when driving in areas where city workers are present,” a press release said. [Read more…]

Gravel sections of Tuskegee Drive to be closed for repairs March 4-11

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Sections of the gravel portion of Tuskegee Drive will be closed for repairs from March 4-11.

The Oak Ridge Public Works Department will be doing the road repairs subject to weather conditions.

The work will require sections of the road to be closed for the day starting at 8 a.m. and ending at 3 p.m., a press release said.

“Provisions will be made for residents to access their properties,” the release said. “There will be no through traffic during the closures.”

Trees down, power outages, flooding reported in Oak Ridge, Anderson County

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Nebraska-Avenue-Tree-Down-Feb-24-2016

A tree was down on Nebraska Avenue on Wednesday morning, Feb. 24, 2016. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 1:15 p.m.

Officials reported that trees were down across Oak Ridge and Anderson County on Wednesday morning, there were several power outages in Oak Ridge, and flooding was reported at some spots in Anderson County.

The flooding, fallen trees, and power outages were reported after a round of storms came through Wednesday morning.

Crews from the city and county are responding. [Read more…]

Radionuclide levels dropping at Rarity Ridge Treatment Plant, but sludge shipments continue for now

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Ken-Glass-Rarity-Ridge-Wasterwater-Treatment-Plan-Jan-4-2016

Ken Glass, Oak Ridge Public Works environmental compliance officer, said levels of technetium 99 in the wastewater system in west Oak Ridge are dropping, but it’s not clear how long UCOR might have to ship sludge from the Rarity Ridge Wastewater Treatment Plant to an out-of-state landfill. Above, Glass stands near a chlorine contact tank at the treatment plant on Monday, Jan. 4, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 9:55 a.m.

The radioactive nuclide that was first detected in the city’s wastewater lines more than two years ago near the demolition project at the former K-25 Building doesn’t affect drinking water, and it’s not believed to pose any threat to residents or municipal employees, officials said this month.

The levels of the radionuclide, technetium 99, are dropping at several measuring spots in the sewer system in west Oak Ridge, but it’s not clear how long UCOR, the federal government’s cleanup contractor, might have to ship sludge from the Rarity Ridge Wastewater Treatment Plant to an out-of-state landfill.

Officials said UCOR has already hauled away about 80,000 gallons of sludge using a 5,000-gallon tanker truck about once every one or two months since 2014. The sludge, which is about 3 percent to 4 percent solid, comes from a part of the plant known as a digester, and the shipments vary depending upon how much is processed at the plant each month.

Officials don’t know yet when the shipments might end. The sludge is now being taken to the Perma-Fix Northwest treatment facility in Richland, Washington. The last shipment was this month. [Read more…]

New ORHS traffic signal starts operating Wednesday

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ORHS-Civic-Center-Stoplight-Dec-11-2015

The new stoplight on Oak Ridge Turnpike between Oak Ridge High School and the Oak Ridge Civic Center will start operating on Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2015. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The new traffic light in front of Oak Ridge High School on Oak Ridge Turnpike will start operating on Wednesday, December 30.

The stoplight has been operating in a temporary, flashing mode since the week of December 14.

City officials want to start operating the stoplight while school is out, said Roger Flynn, director of the Oak Ridge Public Works Department.

The Oak Ridge City Council approved a contract to install the stoplight in a 4-3 vote in April. [Read more…]

Sewer line inspections using sonar machine continue in Oak Ridge

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The Oak Ridge Public Works Department continues to use state-of-the-art technology to perform inspections of the city’s sewer system, a press release said.

This technology employs a sonar machine that emits a repeating series of tones, similar to a musical scale. In open areas, it can be heard over long distances. While harmless, the tones emitted by the machine are low enough in frequency that residents nearby may be able to feel and, in some instances, hear them.

Testing is ongoing, but it will be concentrated to certain areas depending upon weather constraints and other factors during the week of December 7. This includes the area in and around Emory Valley Road, Briarcliff Avenue, and Rivers Run subdivision. [Read more…]

City sewer rehab continues in December

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Sewer rehabilitation work continues in Oak Ridge in December. Morgan Contracting, working under contract for the City of Oak Ridge, is rehabilitating sewer collection pipes within city easements in yards and in roadways.

Residents should have already received letters on colored paper (green for Morgan Contracting) and door hangers providing general information and contractor contact information, a press release said.

“Motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists are urged to use extra care and caution when traveling on the streets with sewer work areas,” the release said. “Temporary road repairs will be made, and loose gravel should be expected until the patches are permanently paved.”

The release said construction work is subject to change based on factors like the weather, equipment, and access issues. Here is the construction work that was scheduled for the week beginning November 30: [Read more…]

City provides info on Oak Ridge street resurfacing

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The Oak Ridge Public Works Department expected to start resurfacing city streets as listed below on Tuesday, October 27. The city recommends that motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists use extra care and caution when traveling on the following streets:

Street Name From Street/Business To Street/Business
Access Road 1 Karen’s Jewelers Rocky Top
Access Road 3 Krystal Taco Bell
Bear Creek Road, West 1510 Bear Creek Road Hwy 58 Ramp
Division Road, East Oak Ridge Turnpike 270 South
Vanderbilt Drive, East Villanova Road Illinois Avenue, S.
Vanderbilt Drive, West Oak Ridge Turnpike Virginia Road
Vanderbilt Drive, West 1 Villanova Road Virginia Road
Elmhurst Drive Briarcliff Avenue Eastridge Drive
East Drive 4 Audubon Road Athens Road
East Drive 3 Alger Road Audubon Road
Alger Road 2 Amherst Lane East Drive

[Read more…]

Knoxville man dies after pickup crash on Bethel Valley Road

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Bethel Valley Road Crash Chevy Oct. 27, 2015

Victor Gujmuit, 25, of Knoxville, was driving westbound in this green Chevy S10 pickup truck on Bethel Valley Road on Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 27, 2015, when he lost control and collided with an eastbound Ford Ranger pickup. He was treated at the scene and taken to UT Medical Center, where he later died. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 3 p.m. Oct. 29.

A Knoxville man died after he was ejected from his pickup truck in a multi-vehicle crash on Bethel Valley Road on Tuesday afternoon, authorities said.

The Oak Ridge Police Department has identified the driver as Victor Gujmuit, 25, of Knoxville.

The ORPD said Gujmuit was driving west on Bethel Valley Road in a 1997 Chevrolet S10 pickup when he lost control and entered the inside eastbound lane of the four-lane roadway. His truck collided with a 1996 Ford Ranger pickup driven by Kurt Marcotte, 52, of Knoxville. Gujmuit was ejected onto the roadway in the outside eastbound lane and hit by a 2003 Dodge pickup truck driven by Raymond Lenoir, 57, of Powell, authorities said.

Gujmuit and Marcotte were treated at the scene and taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville, where Gujmuit later died, the ORPD said. Police have not determined the cause of his death. [Read more…]