TN.gov Newsroom

Knoxville – The Tennessee Department of Transportation today awarded an emergency contract to Charles Blalock & Sons, Inc. for the clean-up and repair of the US441 (The Spur) rockslide in Sevier County. Blalock was awarded a $713,909 contract to clear the rockslide and safely open the southbound lanes by March 12, 2010.

 

“We understand the significance of this road to tourists, Sevier County and the residents of East Tennessee,” said TDOT Region One Director Steve Borden. “We look forward to getting this project underway and completed in a timely and safe manner.”

WARTBURG, Tenn. – A landslide caused by recent, heavy rains has prompted Frozen Head State Park officials to close the Lookout Tower Trail as a matter of visitor safety.

 

CHATTANOOGA - Construction crews with Blalock & Sons and Dyno Nobel set off a series of pre-split and trim explosives on Wednesday in four different locations along the slope.  Thursday crews cleaned up the debris on the roadway surface that was created by the blasts by using a hydraulic ram-hoe and trackhoe.  Crews continue working on the slope to remove loose boulders and debris. Heavy rain and high winds have hampered operations today, but work will resume as soon as weather permits.

 

NASHVILLE – Using nature as your backdrop, the most romantic way to spend this Valentine’s Day is at a Tennessee State Park. All eight state park restaurants will be open Valentine’s Day weekend, serving romantic Valentine’s Day meals and five state park inns will offer special overnight packages.

NASHVILLE --- The Tennessee Highway Patrol and the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) will deliver the “Between the Barrels” presentation to 600 high school students at Clarksville High School in Montgomery County, Monday, February 8, 2010. The safe driving program, which is geared to students who are just learning to drive, aims to reduce the chances of teens being involved in a dangerous work zone crash.

Reserve space now and take advantage of room specials at the Fall Creek Falls Inn

 

PIKEVILLE, Tenn. – Fall Creek Falls State Park is offering a basket-making workshop February 26-27, 2010, for participants interested in learning a new craft or refining existing skills.

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Department of Transportation crews will close multiple lanes on White Bridge Road near Interstate 40 this weekend for the installation of bridge beams for the I-40/White Bridge Road Interchange Modification project. The Interstate 40 Eastbound off-ramp at White Bridge Road (Exit #204) will also be closed for the majority of the weekend.

 

The closure periods are as follows: 

During the closures, crews will use cranes to lift 10 steel bridge beams, each weighing up to 60,000 pounds, across White Bridge Road and onto the large piers located on the east side of the interchange. In addition to the lane closures that will be in place, there will be several rolling roadblocks in both directions of White Bridge Road while the beams are lifted across the travel lanes.

 

NASHVILLE - The 6th Annual Reelfoot Lake Eagle Festival is set for Friday through Sunday, Feb. 5-7.  This annual winter pilgrimage of the majestic American Bald Eagle will bring these winged creatures back to northwest Tennessee from their summer homes in the upper Great Lakes and Canada. With wingspans of six to eight feet and weights up to 16 pounds, the American Bald Eagle has been returning to the open water, marshes and cypress-laden sloughs of Reelfoot Lake for generations.