Oak Ridge Today

Water flowing across all lanes of Highway 95, which is closed

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The Oak Ridge Police Department said road closures due to flooding on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019, include eastbound Highway 95 east of the Highway 95/58 split, pictured above; Gum Hollow Road; and Jefferson Avenue at Jefferson Circle and Royce Circle. (Photo courtesy ORPD)

The Oak Ridge Police Department said road closures due to flooding on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019, include part of Highway 95, pictured above; Gum Hollow Road; and Jefferson Avenue at Jefferson Circle and Royce Circle. (Photo courtesy ORPD)

 

Water is flowing across all lanes of State Route 95 in west Oak Ridge, and the highway is closed, the Oak Ridge Police Department said Saturday afternoon.

ORPD Officer Trae Sweeten posted video of the flooding just west of Southwood Lane. Water is flowing across all lanes and into the nearby East Fork Poplar Creek, the ORPD said.

The ORPD said SR 95/58 is completely closed between Imperium Drive and Rarity Oaks Parkway.

“Conditions will worsen,” the ORPD said. “Please obey all road closures!”

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Oak Ridge police conduct water rescue

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The Oak Ridge Police Department had a water rescue at a partially submerged vehicle in west Oak Ridge on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019, the Oak Ridge Fire Department said. (Photo courtesy ORFD)

The Oak Ridge Police Department had a water rescue at a partially submerged vehicle in west Oak Ridge on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019, the Oak Ridge Fire Department said. (Photo courtesy ORFD)

 

The Oak Ridge Police Department had a water rescue at a partially submerged vehicle in west Oak Ridge on Saturday, the Oak Ridge Fire Department said.

The vehicle was on Oak Ridge Turnpike (Highway 95) in west Oak Ridge, one of several roads in the area that has had at least a portion of it closed.

“We are asking everyone to stay home and off the roads today while we respond to flooding in Oak Ridge,” the Fire Department said. [Read more…]

Updated: Rain causing widespread flooding, road closures

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The Oak Ridge Police Department said road closures due to flooding on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019, include eastbound Highway 95 east of the Highway 95/58 split, pictured above; Gum Hollow Road; and Jefferson Avenue at Jefferson Circle and Royce Circle. (Photo courtesy ORPD)

The Oak Ridge Police Department said road closures due to flooding on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019, include eastbound Highway 95 east of the Highway 95/58 split, pictured above; Gum Hollow Road; and Jefferson Avenue at Jefferson Circle and Royce Circle. (Photo courtesy ORPD)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 2:45 p.m.

Days of continuous, heavy rain are causing widespread flooding and road closures in the area, including in Oak Ridge.

Late Saturday morning, the Oak Ridge Police Department said road closures include Gum Hollow Road, eastbound Highway 95 east of the Highway 95/58 split, and Jefferson Avenue at Jefferson Circle and Royce Circle.

“There are a number of flooded roads in Oak Ridge right now,” the ORPD said. “Please avoid areas with standing water and obey any road or lane closures for your own safety.”

Saturday afternoon, the Oak Ridge Fire Department said the ORPD conducted a water rescue at a partially submerged vehicle on Oak Ridge Turnpike (Highway 95) in west Oak Ridge.

The Police Department cited the advice that law enforcement officers and weather forecasters often give during flooding conditions: “Turn around, don’t drown.” [Read more…]

Some roads, including part of Turnpike, to be closed for Veterans Parade on Saturday

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Some roads, including part of Oak Ridge Turnpike, will be closed for a Veterans Parade on Saturday morning. The parade is part of the Secret City Festival celebration this week.

The road closures were announced by the City of Oak Ridge and Oak Ridge Police Department.

The Veterans Parade route will run from the Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) parking lot off of Badger Avenue to ORAU Way. Participants will then make a right turn onto Oak Ridge Turnpike and end in the Oak Ridge Public Library parking lot. [Read more…]

Road closures planned on Hillside Road for sewer line work

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Road closures are scheduled to start Monday on Hillside Road for sewer line work.

Parts of Hillside Road will be closed intermittently throughout the day on Monday, January 8, to allow crews to replace a sewer line located near Henley Road, the City of Oak Ridge said in a press release. Local traffic will be allowed to drive to homes on Henley Road.

A full closure of Hillside Road will begin on Tuesday, January 9, to renew service connections to several homes in the area, the press release said. These connections are located under the driving surface of the roadway. Local traffic to the affected residences will be accommodated, the press release said. [Read more…]

Flooding, fallen trees, road closures reported in Anderson County during storms

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The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department had a busy weekend after the rain started on Friday, Chief Deputy Mark Lucas said.

Flooding occurred throughout the county, Lucas said. There were trees that had fallen on homes but no reports of injuries. High water forced the closure of several roads. Many of those were still closed Monday morning.

“The water is receding, but drivers are urged to continue to use caution,” Lucas said. “Due to all of the flooded roads, Anderson County Schools were closed today (Monday, April 24).”

Deputies responded to 25 traffic hazard reports from Friday through Sunday. These included fallen trees and other debris in the roadway. Mudslides were also reported on at least two roads, Lucas said. [Read more…]

Trees fall, roads flood, driver escapes floodwaters as rains continue

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Airport-Road-Flooding-Oliver-Springs-Storms-April-22-2017

The driver was reported to have made it out of floodwaters before emergency responders arrived on Saturday afternoon, April 22, 2017, but her black Nissan Altima remained partially submerged on Airport Road near Oliver Springs on Sunday. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 8 p.m.

Roads flooded and trees fell—sometimes on homes, power lines, and roads—as rain continued to fall in East Tennessee on Sunday. One driver was reported to have escaped from her car in floodwaters on Airport Road near Oliver Springs on Saturday afternoon, but the black Nissan Altima remained partially submerged in the water on Sunday.

There appeared to have been at least 10 reports of fallen trees in Oak Ridge during the severe thunderstorms that started Saturday afternoon and continued with rain showers on Sunday. Most of those trees were reported to have fallen on homes, power lines, across roadways, or on personal property such as an automobile. There were five reports of fallen trees between about 3 and 4:30 p.m. Sunday, including a tree that fell across both lanes of Melton Lake Drive near Calhoun’s restaurant, causing a temporary closure of that two-lane road.

There were more reports of trees that had fallen but not damaged anything.

Large trees are falling due to excess rain, the City of Oak Ridge said Sunday. Electric crews have been out all night, and backup is on the way, the city said, but it may be tomorrow (Monday, April 24) before all power is back.

At various times on Sunday, there were reports of flooding or flood watches across Oak Ridge, including on Vermont Avenue, near Heritage Center (the former K-25 site), on California Avenue, and at Jefferson Avenue and North Jefferson Circle.

There were also reports of trees down and road closures in Clinton. Briceville Highway was reported to be closed in Briceveille due to sinking pavement on Sunday afternoon. Earlier Sunday, State Route 71 in Anderson County was closed for several hours at Norris Dam State Park because trees were blocking the road, according to the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

Some school districts have announced they will be closed Monday. Roane County Schools said it will be closed due to “concerning road conditions throughout the county.” Anderson County Schools said it will be closed because of dangerous conditions with flooded roads and trees being down.

The National Weather Service in Morristown said a record for daily rainfall was set at Knoxville Mcghee Tyson Airport on Sunday. The NWS said 1.89 inches had fallen as of 5 p.m. Sunday, breaking the old record of 1.63 inches in 1977.

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Temporary road closures at Melton Hill Recreation Area

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The Tennessee Valley Authority will be making road and parking improvements at Melton Hill Recreation Area, some of which will require changes in traffic patterns during the work, a press release said.

Beginning Saturday, August 6, TVA crews will be conducting road and parking improvements along Melton Hill Dam Road and the recreation access road off Highway 95.

The work will take place daily from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m., weather permitting. [Read more…]

Temporary road closures scheduled to begin Feb. 27

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Three road closures will be required in Oak Ridge between Feb. 27 and March 12 to allow sanitary sewer collection lines to be repaired or replaced.

The work is being done by city contractor Hurst Construction LLC. The schedule could be altered by bad weather.

The closure scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 27, and Friday, Feb. 28, will be California Avenue between Delaware Avenue and West Arrowwood Road. The closure is scheduled from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. [Read more…]

Temporary road closures on Georgia, Delaware avenues for sewer work

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The Oak Ridge gravity wastewater collection system will be under construction during the week of Dec. 9. Georgia Avenue and Delaware Avenue will be closed for the duration of the work. Hurst Excavating will be working under contract with the city to complete rehabilitation work.

Georgia Avenue between Tennessee Avenue and Outer Drive will be closed on Tuesday, Dec. 10, to through traffic to allow the contractor to replace an existing sanitary sewer main line located at the intersection of Georgia Avenue and Gorgus Lane. The closure is expected to take two days. Local traffic may access residences in the area. Kentucky Avenue to the east of Georgia Avenue or Florida Avenue located to the east may be used as detours.

Delaware Avenue will be closed on Tuesday, Dec. 10, for approximately eight hours. A gravity sewer line will be repaired located on Delaware Avenue at its intersection with Dixie Lane. Local traffic may access their residences; however, California Avenue is recommended as a detour for through traffic. The schedule is subject to change in case of bad weather. [Read more…]

Gravel portion of Tuskegee Drive closed for repairs Wednesday-Friday

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The Oak Ridge Public Works Department plans to repair the gravel portion of Tuskegee Drive from Wednesday through Friday.

The work is scheduled to start at 8 a.m. and end at 3:30 pm. Detours will be clearly marked for residents, a press release said.

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More than 600 register for Secret City Half Marathon, road closures scheduled

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Secret City Half Marathon

More than 600 runners have registered for the Secret City Half Marathon and Relay in Oak Ridge on Sunday, and some roads will be closed during the race. (Image courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

Hundreds of runners from 20 states will compete in the Secret City Half Marathon and Relay in Oak Ridge on Sunday, and some roads will be closed during the race.

As of Monday, more than 600 runners were already registered, according to information from organizer Frank Chmielewicz.

The 8 a.m. Sunday race starts and ends at the National Fitness Center on Briarcliff Avenue.

Here are the race day road closures:

  • Emory Valley Road will be closed from about 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. between the Oak Ridge Marina and Briarcliff  Avenue.
  • Briarcliff Avenue will be closed between Emory Valley Road and Laboratory Road from 7:30-8:15 a.m.
  • One lane of Oak Ridge Turnpike traveling east will be closed.
  • Delays could be encountered on Melton Lake Drive due to runners crossing the street to run on the greenway.

The race is being organized by the Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau with help from the City of Oak Ridge, a press release said. The course includes Oak Ridge streets and greenways, including Melton Lake Greenway on the city’s waterfront.

The event includes a Secret City Half Marathon 4 Kids. This free 13.1-mile fun run is for children from first through sixth grade. It encourages children to exercise by giving them a fun and exciting goal, the release said.

By Sunday morning, participants will have run or walked a total of 12 miles. On race day, children will run the last 1.1 mile. All participants get an official race number, race shirt, and goody bag. Medals will be given to those children who are pre-registered and cross the finish line. The children’s log can be downloaded at http://secretcityhalfmarathon.com/register/half-marathon-4-kids.

For more information, visit http://secretcityhalfmarathon.com/ or the city’s website at www.oakridgetn.gov, or contact Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Director Josh Collins at (865) 425-3540.

Race proceeds benefit the Anderson County Child Advocacy Center, which helps children who have been victims or witnesses to physical abuse, sexual abuse, or other crimes.

There will be a Saturday evening pasta dinner before the race to raise money for the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge.