all lanes temporarily opened on the spur

     Behind the scenes work has allowed the Tennessee Department of Transportation to temporarily open all lanes of U.S. 441 (The Spur) in Sevier County.
     Emergency contractor Charles Blalock and Sons, Inc. is currently working offsite utilizing molds to pour concrete panels that will form a stained rock façade which will cover the recently constructed retaining wall.  The retaining wall was built during phase one of the project to stabilize the rock slope above the roadway.
     TDOT estimates crews will begin to install the rock façade during the week of March 15.  At that time one southbound lane will close to allow crews to safely work on phase two of the rockslide repairs.
     Phase two of the project also includes repaving and restriping the lanes in the impacted area. Once work resumes on U.S. 441, the contractor will be required to keep two lanes of traffic open in each direction beginning at 6 a.m. on Fridays through 12:01 a.m. on Mondays.
     TDOT finished phase one of the emergency contract nearly two weeks ahead of schedule.  Phase two is also currently ahead of schedule for completion.  The entire emergency project is scheduled to be finished on or before April 30, 2010.
     TDOT was forced to close the southbound lanes of U.S. 441 after a rockslide threatened the stability of the nearby mountainside on January 25.  Traffic was detoured along one of the northbound lanes until TDOT reopened the southbound roadway on March 1.