From the N.C. Department of Transportation:

RALEIGH – Workers from subcontractor Janod Construction today continued to set explosives in hopes of loosening a large rock mass blocking the middle of the slope.

Janod blasted the slide late Friday afternoon and again Monday afternoon, and scraped loose material to the bottom of the slope. Another blast was scheduled for late this afternoon, but may take place Tuesday, in hopes of removing the remainder of the rock mass in the middle of the slope that started out about 60 feet wide, 80 feet tall and 20 feet thick. Once that mass is removed, workers will start drilling the top of the scarp (cliff) for the next round of blasting as they work their way up the slope.

Janod crews removed overhanging rock off the slide face to the bottom. They also progressed on installing temporary rock bolts to boulders above the scarp to keep them in place while work is done below the boulders.

Crews did not haul debris over the weekend. Workers from contractor Phillips & Jordan broke up the material that was scaled and blasted to the bottom of the slope into more manageable sizes. They also built up the machinery ramp on the west side of the slope. Track hoes are working from the western side of the slope toward the middle to bring down material.

A fleet of 17 trucks today hauled about 300 loads of debris weighing about 6,000 tons from the rockslide to a nearby U.S. Forest Service site east on Interstate 40. The Forest Service and the N.C. Department of Transportation will use the material for future road repair.

Crews will work through the Thanksgiving holiday. The project will take several months to complete.