Rockslide closes U.S. 129 in Tennessee near North Carolina Border

Here’s the press release:

RALEIGH —Early this morning, a rockslide occurred at Mile Marker 9.5 on U.S. 129 in Blount County, Tennessee, near the North Carolina border. The road is currently closed in both directions at the site of the slide.

Geotechnical engineers from the Tennessee Department of Transportation have conducted preliminary evaluations of the slide and are currently developing a plan to stabilize the mountainside and re-open the road safely and expeditiously. Cleanup operations are expected to continue into early next week.

Drivers of non-commercial vehicles will be allowed to travel the eight-mile stretch from North Carolina into Tennessee up to the overlook near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The section from just south of the Foothills Parkway in Tennessee to the site of the rockslide will remain closed as crews work to remove debris.

U.S. 129 in Graham County, North Carolina near the Tennessee border, which includes the 11-mile Tail of the Dragon, remains open.

The following alternate routes are being used for traffic traveling from North Carolina to Tennessee:

All traffic
U.S. 74 West into Tennessee to State Route 68 north to Ducktown. Continue on S.R. 68 through Polk and Monroe counties to I-75 in Sweetwater.

Non-commercial traffic only
N.C. 143 West (Cherohala Skyway) into Tennessee to S.R. 165 to Tellico Plains to S.R. 68 north to U.S. 411 toward Maryville.

Motorists can also use U.S. 441 to travel through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park into Cherokee, North Carolina. For road closures on U.S. 441 through the Smokies, motorists can call (865) 436-1200.

Check the Tennessee Department of Transportation’s website for updates.