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Tower rebuilding complete, South Illinois re-opened overnight

Posted at 7:40 pm January 25, 2021
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The replacement of a large high-voltage transmission tower was completed Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021, and South Illinois Avenue re-opened to traffic at about midnight. (Photo courtesy Tennessee Valley Authority)

The rebuilding of a large high-voltage transmission tower in Oak Ridge was completed Sunday, and South Illinois Avenue re-opened to traffic at about midnight.

The 155-foot steel lattice tower that had to be replaced was knocked over when a pickup truck crashed into it at about 4:15 p.m. Friday. The tower, which is at Union Valley Road, carries high-voltage Tennessee Valley Authority transmission lines and city transmission and distribution lines.

The four-lane road, the main connection between Oak Ridge and Knox County, was closed for about two days after the crash while crews removed and replaced the damaged transmission tower.

TVA said the crash also caused damage to three smaller structures, and they were repaired.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Government, Government, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Slider, TVA Tagged With: Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Electric Department, South Illinois Avenue, State Route 62, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Tennessee Valley Authority, transmission tower, TVA, Union Valley Road

South Illinois Avenue to re-open by midnight

Posted at 11:22 pm January 24, 2021
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

South Illinois Avenue is expected to re-open by midnight Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021, near the University of Tennessee Arboretum after being closed for more than two days because of a large high-voltage transmission tower that was knocked over in a crash on Friday. The repair work is pictured above on Sunday. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

South Illinois Avenue is expected to re-open by midnight near the University of Tennessee Arboretum after being closed for more than two days because a large high-voltage transmission tower was knocked over near the road in a crash on Friday. The road re-opening is expected to occur before the Monday morning commute.

Power is still out for a small southeast portion of the city near the crash site, including the University of Tennessee Arboretum, the City of Oak Ridge said Sunday evening.

The single-vehicle crash into the Tennessee Valley Authority steel lattice transmission tower was reported at Union Valley Road at about 4:15 p.m. Friday. That section of the four-lane road, also known as State Route 62 and Pellissippi Parkway, has been closed since shortly after the crash. The road is the main connection between Oak Ridge, Knox County, and Knoxville.

TVA and the Oak Ridge Electric Department worked over the weekend to replace the damaged transmission tower, which carries TVA and Oak Ridge power lines. The repair crews had help from the Oak Ridge Police Department and Oak Ridge Public Works Department. It was a complex emergency repair, the City of Oak Ridge said.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Government, Government, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Slider, TVA Tagged With: City of Oak Ridge, crash, Oak Ridge Electric Department, Pellissippi Parkway, South Illinois Avenue, State Route 62, Tennessee Highway Patrol, transmission tower, TVA, Union Valley Road, University of Tennessee Arboretum

Charges pending, three injured in crash into TVA transmission tower

Posted at 1:56 am January 23, 2021
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Charges are pending after a crash into an electrical transmission tower that caused widespread power outages Friday afternoon, Jan. 22, 2021, the Tennessee Highway Patrol said. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Charges are pending and three people were injured in a single-vehicle crash into a large high-voltage transmission tower that caused widespread power outages Friday afternoon, the Tennessee Highway Patrol said.

The crash was reported at about 4:15 p.m. Friday at Union Valley Road and South Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge.

A preliminary report from the THP said Dustin Elliot, 28, of Mobile, Alabama, was driving a white 2015 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck north on South Illinois Avenue (State Route 62) when he went off the right side of the road and hit the Tennessee Valley Authority transmission tower. The tower was damaged, knocked over, and leaning over the road.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Tennessee, TVA Tagged With: Dan Weaver, David Sommers, Dustin Elliot, electrical transmission tower, South Illinois Avenue, Tennessee Highway Patrol, THP, Union Valley Road

Large transmission tower knocked down, causing power outages

Posted at 5:35 pm January 22, 2021
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

A large electrical transmission tower was knocked down in a crash at Union Valley Road and South Illinois Avenue on Friday afternoon, Jan. 22, 2021, causing widespread power outages. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Note: This story was last updated at 1:30 a.m. Jan 23.

A large high-voltage transmission tower was knocked down in a crash at Union Valley Road and South Illinois Avenue on Friday afternoon, causing widespread power outages.

Power went out in sections of Oak Ridge at about 4:30 p.m. Friday. Stoplights were not operating, and South Illinois Avenue was closed to traffic in a section north and south of the University of Tennessee Arboretum. Traffic was backed up for miles, and drivers were redirected to alternate routes.

A heavily damaged white pickup truck was at the crash site. An overturned Bobcat was behind the pickup truck.

The City of Oak Ridge said the pickup truck hit the transmission tower. The driver of the truck involved in the crash and a passenger had injuries that were not life-threatening, the city said. Both were taken to local hospitals.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Police and Fire, Slider Tagged With: crash, Oak Ridge, South Illinois Avenue, Tennessee Highway Patrol, transmission tower, Union Valley Road

One person dies, four injured in two-vehicle crash near UT Arboretum

Posted at 7:23 pm May 26, 2017
By John Huotari 1 Comment

One person died and four people were injured in a two-vehicle crash involving a sedan and an SUV near the University of Tennessee Arboretum on South Illinois Avenue on Friday afternoon, May 26, 2017, authorities said. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

One person died and four people were injured in a two-vehicle crash involving a sedan and an SUV near the University of Tennessee Arboretum on South Illinois Avenue on Friday afternoon, May 26, 2017, authorities said. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

One person died and four people were injured in the two-vehicle crash near the University of Tennessee Arboretum on South Illinois Avenue on Friday afternoon, authorities said.

The crash was reported at about 2:47 p.m. Friday at Commerce Park Drive, which is across from the Arboretum.

The two vehicles involved were a sedan and a sport utility vehicle, the City of Oak Ridge said in a press release.

Three people were inside the sedan: two adults and one child. The adult passenger was killed. The adult driver and child passenger were injured.

Two adults inside the SUV were injured, the city said.

All of the victims were taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville. Two were taken by UT Lifestar medical helicopters and two by ambulance, the city said. The extent of their injuries and current conditions are unknown. Their identities haven’t been released. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Police and Fire, Slider, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County EMS, Anderson County Sheriff's Department, Bethel Valley Road, City of Oak Ridge, crash, Electric Department, Kevin Rice, Oak Ridge Fire Department, Oak Ridge Police Department, Oak Ridge Public Works, South Illinois Avenue, Union Valley Road, University of Tennessee Arboretum, UT Lifestar

Two medical helicopters respond to crash near UT Arboretum

Posted at 3:52 pm May 26, 2017
By John Huotari 2 Comments

Two medical helicopters responded to a crash on South Illinois Avenue near the University of Tennessee Arboretum on Friday afternoon, May 26, 2017. One helicopter is visible just to the left of the road sign in the median above. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Two medical helicopters responded to a crash on South Illinois Avenue near the University of Tennessee Arboretum on Friday afternoon, May 26, 2017. One helicopter is partially visible just to the left of the road sign in the median above. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 6:40 p.m.

Two medical helicopters responded to a crash on South Illinois Avenue near the University of Tennessee Arboretum on Friday afternoon.

The crash was reported at about 2:45 p.m. Friday. The first helicopter, a UT Lifestar helicopter, departed at about 3:20 p.m., just as the second one approached to land on South Illinois Avenue.

It’s not clear yet how many vehicles or occupants were involved. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Oak Ridge, Police and Fire Tagged With: Bethel Valley Road, crash, South Illinois Avenue, Union Valley Road, University of Tennessee Arboretum, UT Arboretum, UT Lifestar

Power outages affect several hundred; two cars crash into snow plows

Posted at 1:40 pm February 17, 2015
By John Huotari 2 Comments

Lafayette Drive and Icy Roads

Lafayette Drive is pictured above on Tuesday morning at the intersection with Laboratory Road in central Oak Ridge. (Photos by Daniel Powers)

 

Several hundred customers were affected by power outages overnight but most lost power for less than an hour, and two cars crashed into city snow plows, making one of the plows unusable for now, officials said.

There were no reports of injuries in the few minor crashes that occurred overnight.

Officials continued to urge drivers to stay off roads unless absolutely necessary. Some of them remain covered in ice, and vehicles that are required to travel, such as postal vehicles and Oak Ridge Public Works trucks, are using chains or studded tires.

Oak Ridge Electric Director Jack Suggs said the largest power outage was in an area around Montana Avenue and West Outer Drive at about 6 p.m. Monday. It affected about 440 people, but only lasted about 45 minutes, according to preliminary information, Suggs said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Government, Government, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Slider, Top Stories, Weather Tagged With: Bethel Valley Industrial Park, Florida Avenue, Gary Cinder, Gum Hollow Road, ice, Jack Suggs, Montana Avenue, Oak Ridge Electric, Oak Ridge Police Department, Oak Ridge Public Works, power outages, Robin Smith, salt, snow, snow plows, state of emergency, TEMA, Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, Union Valley Road, West Outer Drive, winter storm

South Illinois to be closed Saturday night as railroad tracks removed

Posted at 7:48 pm June 25, 2014
By John Huotari 5 Comments

South Illinois Avenue Railroad Crossing

A section of South Illinois Avenue will be closed Saturday night as a city contractor removes the abandoned railroad tracks that cross the busy roadway just south of the intersection with Lafayette Drive and Scarboro Road.

 

A section of South Illinois Avenue will be closed Saturday night as a city contractor removes the abandoned railroad tracks that cross the busy roadway just south of the intersection with Lafayette Drive and Scarboro Road.

The work by Rogers Group Inc. should be complete by Sunday, a city press release said.

Workers will start installing traffic control devices to close the road and divert traffic to the detour at about 6 p.m. Saturday. The road, also known as State Route 62, or SR62, will be closed at roughly 8 p.m., the press release said.

“To minimize the inconvenience to the public, this work will take place overnight,” it said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Government, Government, Oak Ridge, Slider, Top Stories Tagged With: detours, Lafayette Drive, Oak Ridge Public Works Department, railroad tracks, Rogers Group Inc., Scarboro Road, South Illinois Avenue, SR62, State Route 62, traffic, Union Valley Road

ORNL equipment weighing 1,500 pounds falls on worker’s legs

Posted at 9:13 am April 25, 2014
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

A piece of surplus equipment that weighs more than 1,500 pounds tipped over and fell onto the legs of an Oak Ridge National Laboratory worker on March 31, fracturing both legs and breaking his thumb, a spokesman said.

When it tipped over, a few ORNL employees were loading the scattering chamber and cart onto the box truck of a person who had purchased the equipment at an auction, said David Keim, ORNL communications director.

A few metal arms that protrude from the scattering chamber might have hit the floor of the truck and created some space between the “deceptively heavy” piece of equipment and the worker’s legs, preventing even more serious injuries, Keim said. Also, the chamber and cart might have hit other equipment already loaded into the back of the truck, also helping to prevent more serious injuries. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: David Keim, Excess Property and Sales, loading dock, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ORNL, Physics Division, scattering chamber, surplus equipment, Union Valley Road, University of Tennessee Medical Center

UPF Project Office moves into former Answer Financial building

Posted at 11:16 am July 24, 2013
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

UPF Project Office

Employees working on the multi-billion-dollar Uranium Processing Facility at the Y-12 National Security Complex have consolidated in office space at 90 Union Valley Road across from Y-12, moving there from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Scientific and Technical Information and 1099 Commerce Park.

An office building once used by Answer Financial on Union Valley Road is now home to employees working on the multi-billion-dollar Uranium Processing Facility at the Y-12 National Security Complex.

The UPF employees now located at 90 Union Valley Road, which is across Scarboro Road from Y-12, were previously split between offices at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Scientific and Technical Information and 1099 Commerce Park, said Bridget Correll Waller, Y-12 community and government relations manager. The new consolidated offices include space for UPF federal staff, project managers, and workers in procurement, security, quality assurance, project services and project controls, and Environment, Safety and Health, or ES&H. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, National Nuclear Security Administration, Oak Ridge, Top Stories, Y-12 National Security Complex Tagged With: Answer Financial, B&W Y-12, Bridget Correll Waller, Cherahala Boulevard, Commerce Park, National Nuclear Security Administration, Office of Scientific and Technical Information, R&R Enterprises, Rick Chinn, U.S. Department of Energy, Union Valley Road, UPF, UPF Project Office, uranium processing facility, Y-12 National Security Complex

Answer Financial move has significant impact, new tenant possible

Posted at 1:04 pm January 31, 2013
By John Huotari 1 Comment

Answer Financial Oak Ridge

Answer Financial Inc. is relocating from this building on Union Valley Road to Bridgewater Road in West Knoxville.

Answer Financial’s decision to relocate its local sales center to Knoxville, taking several hundred jobs, will have a significant impact on Oak Ridge, but another tenant could be interested in moving into the office building on Union Valley Road, business leaders said.

One of the largest auto and home insurance agencies in the United States, Answer Financial broke ground on its new 32,775-square-foot facility on Bridgewater Road in Knoxville last week. It could be open by early fall and serve as the company’s primary sales center. It will be able to house more than 400 employees, including more than 100 new employees the company plans to hire in the next two years.

Estimates of the jobs lost in Oak Ridge ranged from about 200 to 300, and officials said Answer Financial workers earned $40,000 to $50,000 or more.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Knoxville, Oak Ridge, Top Stories Tagged With: Allstate, Answer Financial, Bridgewater Road, InsLogic, insurance, jobs, Kim Denton, lease, Oak Ridge Economic Partnership, R&R Enterprises, relocation, Rick Chinn, Union Valley Road

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Classifieds

Public Notice: Comment period extended for Draft EA for Lithium Processing Facility at Y-12

EXTENSION OF THE COMMENT PERIOD FOR THE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE LITHIUM PROCESSING … [Read More...]

Public Notice: Draft Environmental Assessment Available for Lithium Production Facility at Y-12

AVAILABILITY OF THE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE LITHIUM PROCESSING FACILITY AT THE Y-12 … [Read More...]

Availability of the Final Environmental Assessment for the Oak Ridge Enhanced Technology and Training Center (ORETTC) (DOE/EA-2144), Finding of No Significant Impact, and Wetland Statement of Findings

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) announces the … [Read More...]

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