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Tootal
Posted on Tuesday, April 13, 2010 - 05:45 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I received an e-mail from a friend in Georgia that included a note sent from somebody that shoots photo's on the gap. Anybody confirm this;

The Dragon is closed. No bike riding on US129 until end of July to
>> maybe September 1. A Rock slide has closed the road just north of the
>> Deals Gap station. Contract is to be awarded Monday. They will know
>> more about when US129 will open. We went up today to photograph
>> motorcycles on the Dragon. Four and a half hours round trip to find
>> the road closed.
>>
>> As went went north from Robinsville on US129 today, I noticed a small
>> rock slide almost onto the south bound lanes. On the way back, the
>> south bound lanes right near the same spot was covered with dirt and
>> rocks from a slide that just happened while we were north towards
>> Deals Gap.
>>
>> I know you ride and might want to know this or pass the word on.
>>
>> I know I wanted to hit the great Smoky Mountains next month for spring
>> photos. I will need to check routes before heading that way. Anyone
>> else that might head to the Smoky mountains check with TDOT for road
>> closures up that way. Besides this there are three other routes
>> closed. One near Pigeon Forge.
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Hemibee
Posted on Tuesday, April 13, 2010 - 07:32 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Parts of the Dragon were to open yesterday, not sure if it did occur. Information below from
http://www.volunteertv.com/news/headlines/90250367 .html}


quote:



Part of U.S. 129, closed due to rockslide, will reopen Monday

The Tennessee Department of Transportation will reopen an 11-mile stretch of U.S. 129/SR115 in Blount County known as "The Dragon" on Monday, April 12 at 8:00 a.m.


KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (SUBMITTED) -- The Tennessee Department of Transportation will reopen an 11-mile stretch of U.S. 129/SR115 in Blount County known as "The Dragon" on Monday, April 12 at 8:00 a.m. The stretch of U.S. 129 from the Tabcat Bridge to the North Carolina state line will be open to traffic each day between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. The section of U.S. 129 from just past the Foothills Parkway to the Tabcat Bridge will remain closed as crews work to remove a rockslide that closed the roadway in March.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol will provide traffic enforcement and Graham County, North Carolina will provide emergency response along the open section of U.S. 129 during daylight hours. Motorists are advised that emergency response will be limited in the area. Law enforcement will have zero tolerance for traffic law violations and will diligently enforce the area. U.S. 129 will be closed to traffic at the North Carolina state line at 8:00 p.m. each night until 8:00 a.m. the next day. The roadway will remain closed to commercial traffic and large RVs.

TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely worked closely with North Carolina Department of Transportation Secretary Gene Conti and Tennessee Department of Safety Commissioner Dave Mitchell to find a way to reopen the scenic stretch of U.S. 129 known as "The Dragon" which is popular with both motorists and motorcycle riders for its 318 turns in 11 miles.

Congressmen John Duncan of Tennessee and Heath Shuler of North Carolina as well as State Senators Doug Overbey of Tennessee and John Snow of North Carolina and State Representatives Joe McCord of Tennessee and Roger West of North Carolina also worked closely with TDOT, the NCDOT, and local businesses to find a compromise to reopen the dragon.

Meanwhile, work continues at the site of the rockslide which closed a portion of U.S. 129 on March 14. Crews with TDOT's emergency contractor, Pacific Blasting & Demolition Ltd., continue to remove loose rocks from the slope above the roadway. They have also installed a silt fence and have built a berm to act as a barrier to protect the lake and prevent slide material from impacting the waters. The contractor plans to work seven days a week, ten hours a day to safely expedite the rockslide repairs.

The U.S. 129/SR115 rockslide project is estimated to be complete by July 31; however, TDOT is providing an incentive of $6,500 per day to complete the work early. If work is completed by July 1 the contractor will receive a full incentive of $195,000. If work is not complete by July 31 the contractor faces a disincentive of $6,500 per day until the work is complete.

TDOT has created a web page for information on the rockslide which can be found at www.tn.gov/tdot by clicking on the link "Rockslide Closures" at the top of the page. Motorists can find detour maps for all rockslides currently effecting travel in Tennessee. TDOT will also use the site to communicate updates on the project to stabilize and clear the U.S. 129 slide.

(This information was submitted by TDOT.)


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Tootal
Posted on Tuesday, April 13, 2010 - 08:52 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

http://ww2.tdot.state.tn.us/tsw/smartmap.htm

Looks like they might have it cleared by tomorrow according to the link above.
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