MINI on the Dragon: Rockslide
MINI on the Dragon: Rockslide
This may interest those of you planing to attend MOTD this year. Apparently there was a rock slide on the Dragon and it has been closed to clean up the road. I have not seen the estimated time of clean up but it looks as though it will be done before we all head down to Tennesee at the end of April. Follow the link below for story and pictures.
http://tailofthedragon.com/news.html
http://tailofthedragon.com/news.html
Better link to find the article here: http://tailofthedragon.com/index.html
more news here: http://www.wbir.com/video/default.as...de/71783729001
more news here: http://www.wbir.com/video/default.as...de/71783729001
2nd Gear
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
I found this on the TDOT Map http://ww2.tdot.state.tn.us/tsw/smartmap.htm
[SIZE=2]State Route 115 northbound in Blount County - Incident at FOOTHILLS PKWY. RT. reported at 4:00 PM 3/15/2010 and estimated to be cleared by 4:00 PM 03/20/2010 (Eastern Time Zone). Northbound traffic is affected with all lanes blocked. Southbound traffic is affected with all lanes blocked. Both directions of traffic are being diverted to alternate routes.Due to a rockslide approximately two miles south of Chilhowee Dam [/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]State Route 115 northbound in Blount County - Incident at FOOTHILLS PKWY. RT. reported at 4:00 PM 3/15/2010 and estimated to be cleared by 4:00 PM 03/20/2010 (Eastern Time Zone). Northbound traffic is affected with all lanes blocked. Southbound traffic is affected with all lanes blocked. Both directions of traffic are being diverted to alternate routes.Due to a rockslide approximately two miles south of Chilhowee Dam [/SIZE]
From our newspaper.
"A crew removed enough rock to temporarily open one lane of the highway to relieve a traffic bottleneck, but both lanes of the section known as the Dragon remain closed to motorists."
http://www.citizen-times.com/article...NEWS/100316019
"A crew removed enough rock to temporarily open one lane of the highway to relieve a traffic bottleneck, but both lanes of the section known as the Dragon remain closed to motorists."
http://www.citizen-times.com/article...NEWS/100316019
2nd Gear
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
I'm sure both TDOT and NC DOT are well aware that we are descending on their road the end of April !! And will have everything neatly restored !!
LOL
Or perhaps not ?
Just joking folks !!! a little bureaucratic humor !!
LOL
Or perhaps not ?
Just joking folks !!! a little bureaucratic humor !!
I-40 has been closed since November due to that rock slide....
6th Gear
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,390
Likes: 3
From: Daytona Beach, Florida
Wow !!! I hope it gets done
I know a lot of people sure will be sad if they can't drive the Dragon. 
Ronnie948
Ronnie948
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6th Gear
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,097
Likes: 8
From: Knoxville, TN
My brother in law works for the TVA and his office is actually off the Dragon and couldn't get to work today. They gave the employees an estimate of 2-12 weeks, mostly because the slide is still active and may require dynamite to bring the rest down.
Ahh, driving the dragon is only 95% of it. The other 5% is enjoying the crisp mountain air that can awaken a half dead, mummified individual such as myself and make him feel alive again. Plus, there's always the Cherohala!!!
The most recent update from dealsgap.com:
So, for now, Dragon is open for business. You just can't access it from the TN side. We'll see what unfolds over the next several weeks.
Tuesday March 16
Ok gang
I have driven both routs into our area from the TN side today. Skyway is in near perfect condition but we did see some fog this evening. 441 through the smoky mountain national park has a few icy spots on it but I expect it to be clean by the weekend as well. US129 from the south as well as NC28 are perfect as well.
The Dragon is open and you can make it too the lake with no issues. However, please remember that the road will have traffic traveling in BOTH directions as folks have to return back through the Dragon.
I have talked to TDOT for both Nashville and Knoxville and here is the current info: They do have most of the road cleaned off, however there is a 50-60 ton ledge in danger of collapsing. TDOT can not remove it as they do not have the equipment for it so they have contractor placing bids this week. Expect a 2 week process before clean up continues and up too 2 weeks to remove the ledge. They will be offering incentives to the contract winner to clean it up as fast but as safe as possible.
129 from the NC side will remain open as far as we know. The store will stay open with a minimal staff but all the services will be open unless 129 is closed at the state line. If that happens we will reevaluate what services will be offered. We will honor all hotel reservations and will have support for those folks as normal.
As we hear more I will pass it on too you.
Thanks gang.
Brad
Ok gang
I have driven both routs into our area from the TN side today. Skyway is in near perfect condition but we did see some fog this evening. 441 through the smoky mountain national park has a few icy spots on it but I expect it to be clean by the weekend as well. US129 from the south as well as NC28 are perfect as well.
The Dragon is open and you can make it too the lake with no issues. However, please remember that the road will have traffic traveling in BOTH directions as folks have to return back through the Dragon.
I have talked to TDOT for both Nashville and Knoxville and here is the current info: They do have most of the road cleaned off, however there is a 50-60 ton ledge in danger of collapsing. TDOT can not remove it as they do not have the equipment for it so they have contractor placing bids this week. Expect a 2 week process before clean up continues and up too 2 weeks to remove the ledge. They will be offering incentives to the contract winner to clean it up as fast but as safe as possible.
129 from the NC side will remain open as far as we know. The store will stay open with a minimal staff but all the services will be open unless 129 is closed at the state line. If that happens we will reevaluate what services will be offered. We will honor all hotel reservations and will have support for those folks as normal.
As we hear more I will pass it on too you.
Thanks gang.
Brad
6th Gear
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,097
Likes: 8
From: Knoxville, TN
One item of note is that the part of 129 with the rock slide is actually just west of the beginning of the Tail of the Dragon, so if you are coming from the NC side, you can drive the entire Dragon unemcombered! 
.
After I finished laughing at that guy for the fifth time, I started to wonder...
What the aicheeeedoublehockeysticks is that LEO doing yacking on the side of the road with a news crew... when there's a hazard blocking a US highway?
You're telling me that, with all the LEOs that swarm that area, in the amount of time it took a news truck to get out there, NO ONE could get there to CLOSE THE ROAD?????
There's at least one law officer on the scene.... why isn't his cruiser parked across the road back in a straight section? Where are the flares and warning triangles?
If I was that dude... even though it would definitely be my fault for getting distracted and hitting a stationary object... I think I could make a case that there was some negligence on the part of law enforcement going on...
What the aicheeeedoublehockeysticks is that LEO doing yacking on the side of the road with a news crew... when there's a hazard blocking a US highway?
You're telling me that, with all the LEOs that swarm that area, in the amount of time it took a news truck to get out there, NO ONE could get there to CLOSE THE ROAD?????
There's at least one law officer on the scene.... why isn't his cruiser parked across the road back in a straight section? Where are the flares and warning triangles?
If I was that dude... even though it would definitely be my fault for getting distracted and hitting a stationary object... I think I could make a case that there was some negligence on the part of law enforcement going on...
Actually, I'm more disturbed by his 'man-*****' than the fact the he didn't see A FEW HUNDRED TONS OF ROCKS IN THE HIGHWAY and drove right into them.
I guess you can't fix stupid.
I guess you can't fix stupid.
What mountain?
To summarize:
The slide is NOT on the Dragon. It's on US 129 a mile or two north of the Dragon. While there is currently no through traffic past the slide in either direction, the Dragon is fully accessible from the south - which is the side the vast majority of attendees are staying on (Fontana, Robbinsville, Bryson City, etc.).
This is a GOOD THING as far as driving the Dragon is concerned - it drastically reduces traffic, and perhaps speed enforcement.
The only downsides are:
a) if you're trying to get there from the TN side - then you're hosed.
b) if you plan to drive out the Dragon, then continue on to the Foothills Parkway, Vonore, Cherohala Skyway, Gatlinburg, etc. - then you'll have to take a very alternate route.
c) if NC or TN DOT decide to close the Dragon to traffic from the NC side between now and the time the slide is officially cleared. That would SUCK. But that hasn't happened yet, and at this point we have no indication that it will happen. The road must be at least partially open to allow official access to one of the dams that is accessed via the Dragon. But it wouldn't surprise me if TN puts up barricades at the state line... their argument would be that it's impossible for law enforcement and emergency vehicles to access the area safely... this would severely hurt some businesses on the NC side of the line... but they've proven in the past that they don't care about that.
But right now, it's WONDERLAND.
To summarize:
The slide is NOT on the Dragon. It's on US 129 a mile or two north of the Dragon. While there is currently no through traffic past the slide in either direction, the Dragon is fully accessible from the south - which is the side the vast majority of attendees are staying on (Fontana, Robbinsville, Bryson City, etc.).
This is a GOOD THING as far as driving the Dragon is concerned - it drastically reduces traffic, and perhaps speed enforcement.
The only downsides are:
a) if you're trying to get there from the TN side - then you're hosed.
b) if you plan to drive out the Dragon, then continue on to the Foothills Parkway, Vonore, Cherohala Skyway, Gatlinburg, etc. - then you'll have to take a very alternate route.
c) if NC or TN DOT decide to close the Dragon to traffic from the NC side between now and the time the slide is officially cleared. That would SUCK. But that hasn't happened yet, and at this point we have no indication that it will happen. The road must be at least partially open to allow official access to one of the dams that is accessed via the Dragon. But it wouldn't surprise me if TN puts up barricades at the state line... their argument would be that it's impossible for law enforcement and emergency vehicles to access the area safely... this would severely hurt some businesses on the NC side of the line... but they've proven in the past that they don't care about that.
But right now, it's WONDERLAND.
Got it.
Newest "theme park ride" at the Dragon - attempt to drive your car over a big mountain of jagged rocks.
I betcha Tuls will try to do it with a golf cart, if given the opportunity.
Newest "theme park ride" at the Dragon - attempt to drive your car over a big mountain of jagged rocks.
I betcha Tuls will try to do it with a golf cart, if given the opportunity.
6th Gear
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,280
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From: Vancouver, WA
Those moobs are like a B-cup, aren't they?