ALMOND – N.C. Department of Transportation crews from three counties worked from sunrise to sunset over four days to clear a rockslide on N.C. 28 about two miles south of U.S. 74 in Swain County.
The highway is open to travelers once again.
NCDOT crews from Swain, Macon, and Jackson counties removed about 500 dump-truck loads of dirt, rock and debris from the road. They worked as a team operating two excavators, one bulldozer and drove circuits hauling away the debris, until they finished sweeping the road Monday afternoon.
“I’m very impressed and proud of how much they were able to accomplish is such a short time,” Division 14 Maintenance Engineer Wesley Grindstaff said. “I know residents in the area, and folks driving to and from Franklin, are glad that the road is back open.”
On Thursday evening, crews closed the area, just north of Brush Creek Road, with barricades after a handful of basketball-sized rocks tumbled to the road. Shortly before 5 p.m. Grindstaff witnessed a sedan-sized rock and additional debris fall from a hillside. By sunrise on Friday, the rest of the hillside slid toward the road.
“It turned out to be a pretty straight-forward cleanup,” Swain County Maintenance Engineer Travis Williamson said. “We have a great team and they did outstanding work for our residents and visitors.”
For real-time travel information, visit DriveNC.gov or follow NCDOT on social media.
DAY SPONSOR
Carrion Tree Service is underwriting Macon Media for today. they are a fully licensed and insured tree service, specializing in dangerous tree removal, view clearing, pruning, and crane services with a 24 Hour emergency response.
Their phone number is 371-4718.
They can handle all your tree removal needs in good or bad weather.
Published at 5:20pm on Monday, March 9, 2020
Posts
