GoBlueRidge.net - Governor Perdue Visits I-40 Rockslide - Constantly Updated High Country NC News Source

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Governor Perdue Visits I-40 Rockslide

Written by Adam Hicks

Monday, November 02 2009

Crews began breaking up large boulders and removing unstable rocks on Friday at the rockslide that has closed part of Interstate 40 near the Tennessee line last week.

According to Department of Transportation officials, the slide is about 150 feet high and 200-300 feet wide.

Governor Bev Perdue made an emergency declaration at the site and is currently seeking federal funding to pay for clean up and repairs to the roadway.

Perdue actually visited the rockslide and said, “I saw the rockslide firsthand. Not since 1997 has western North Carolina seen a slide of this magnitude – longer than a football field and the width of a two-car garage. The cleanup process is underway and it will be a 24/7 operation. I want to reopen I-40 as quickly as possible with public safety our first goal. Western North Carolina is open for business and the leaf season is spectacular. So use our alternate routes during your visit and enjoy all western North Carolina has to offer.”

Initial damage assessments from the DOT estimate the clean up and repair will cost $7 - $9 million and take at least three months to complete.

In the meantime, detours are set up to allow traffic to flow to portions of southwestern North Carolina.

Comments

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paulman1

Registered | 11/02/2009 2:12PM

WIll the State be able to get any
Federal Funds to help pay for this...
(since I-40 is part of the INTER-STATE
system)

ricklab

Registered | 11/03/2009 9:17AM

How much did it cost us for her to get there to see this rock slide? Photos were good enough for the rest of us!

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