BlueRidgeGal
03-16-2012, 08:25 AM
An early morning rock slide forced the closure today of the portion of U.S. Highway 129 called "The Dragon" in Blount County.
The slide was reported at 4:54 a.m. on the road, which also is called Calderwood Highway, according to the Blount County E-911 Center.
The slide is near the Power House along "The Dragon" near the Chilhowee Dam. The road that runs into North Carolina is entirely closed, according to an emergency dispatcher.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation has sent crews to the site to determine the severity of the slide.
TDOT regional spokesman Mark Nagi this morning said one lane of the road "is blocked by a large rock, the other blocked by trees uprooted from the slide."
There is no detour route. The road has been called The Dragon because of the more than 300 curves along the route that attract motorcycle enthusiasts from around the world.
More details are expected to come soon regarding the closure.
The slide was reported at 4:54 a.m. on the road, which also is called Calderwood Highway, according to the Blount County E-911 Center.
The slide is near the Power House along "The Dragon" near the Chilhowee Dam. The road that runs into North Carolina is entirely closed, according to an emergency dispatcher.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation has sent crews to the site to determine the severity of the slide.
TDOT regional spokesman Mark Nagi this morning said one lane of the road "is blocked by a large rock, the other blocked by trees uprooted from the slide."
There is no detour route. The road has been called The Dragon because of the more than 300 curves along the route that attract motorcycle enthusiasts from around the world.
More details are expected to come soon regarding the closure.