Oak Ridge Today

Part of Manhattan Avenue to be rebuilt, closed for about three weeks

Posted at
By 15 Comments

Manhattan-Avenue-and-Northwestern-Avenue-June-3-2016

Road work is scheduled to begin Monday, June 6, 2016, on a small portion of Manhattan Avenue between South Purdue Avenue and Northwestern Avenue. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

A short section of Manhattan Avenue will be rebuilt, and that section of the street could be closed for about three weeks.

The work is scheduled to start Monday, June 6, on Manhattan Avenue between South Purdue and Northwestern avenues.

Manhattan Avenue will be closed there to through traffic, and alternate routes could be in place for about three weeks, a press release said. Only residents will be allowed access to the roadway and their driveways.

“A road reconstruction is a major project for the City of Oak Ridge, as usually we only mill and resurface streets,” the press release said. “Due to the subsurface failure of this portion of Manhattan Avenue, reconstruction of the roadway is necessary.” [Read more…]

All lanes of I-75 reopen in Campbell County

Posted at
By 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
By 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…]

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

Posted at
By 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
By Leave a Comment

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

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)

 

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.

Copyright 2016 Oak Ridge Today. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

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

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)

 

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
By Leave a Comment

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

Posted at
By 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…]

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

Posted at
By 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, 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

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

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.

Traffic light study under way, new plans could be implemented this year

Posted at
By 2 Comments

TDOT Commissioner John Schroer and Mayor Pro Tem Jane Miller

TDOT Commissioner John Schroer presents a signal optimization grant check to former Oak Ridge Mayor Pro Tem Jane Miller. (File photo from September 2014 courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

 

A traffic light timing study is under way, and new plans could be implemented early this year, city officials said in December.

Oak Ridge Today asked about the signal timing project during a December interview with Oak Ridge Electric Director Jack Suggs and Jon van Eek, power utilization program supervisor in the Oak Ridge Electric Department. That interview focused on radar-based traffic detectors at six intersections in Oak Ridge.

The City of Oak Ridge announced in September 2014 that it had been awarded a Tennessee Department of Transportation grant for $237,500 for a signal timing optimization project.

Suggs and van Eek said the timing study is under way, and they hope to have new plans implemented after January 1, 2016. The plan is to move the maximum number of cars in all directions and to move the maximum number of vehicles, Suggs said. [Read more…]

Photos: Jackson Square parking lot work continues Thursday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Jackson Square Fountain and Landscaping

New landscaping is in the foreground and the interactive fountain is in the background at Jackson Square as construction continued on the $1 million parking lot renovation on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2015. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The $1 million renovation of the Jackson Square parking lot continued Thursday, with the goal of finishing the project in time for Taste of Anderson County on Saturday.

Construction started in January on what has turned into one of the most closely watched projects in Oak Ridge. Work is funded with help from a $741,609 Tennessee Department of Transportation Enhancement Grant that was awarded to the city in June 2012. The TDOT grant covers 80 percent of the work, and it requires a 20 percent city match.

The work is reported to be the first major renovation at Jackson Square in 70 years. It includes a landscaped pedestrian plaza with parking, an interactive fountain, stone pavers, curbing, asphalt paving, utilities, benches, sidewalks, and upgrades under the American with Disabilities Act. [Read more…]