Help is on the way for one county heavily affected by weather.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation has awarded an emergency contract to repair a mudslide on Highway 70N in Hawkins County.
The slide occurred between Clinch Valley Road and State Route 94 in the early morning hours of Thursday, February 21.
Charles Blalock & Sons, Inc. was awarded the contract at a cost of $8,721,569.71. The contract includes the building of a large rock buttress and soil nails to stabilize the slope. This repair project is scheduled to be completed on or before August 15, 2019.
Currently, Highway 70N remains closed in both directions. During the closure, all traffic will be detoured. Message boards are in place to alert motorists to the road closure. Drivers are advised to plan ahead and seek alternate routes.
The most recent mudslide caused the death of a Jonesborough man.
Detours are as follows.
From SR 70 in Rogersville:
Take SR 1 South (US 11W) to SR 31 North in Mooresburg, then SR 33 North to SR 70 North
From SR 70 in Kyles Ford:
Take SR 33 South to SR 31 South in Sneedville, then SR 1 (US 11W) in North Mooresburg to SR 70 North in Rogersville
Motorists can get real-time travel information and traffic conditions online at www.TNSmartWay.com/Traffic or by dialing 511 from any landline or cellular phone.
