http://www.wymt.com/content/news/He...y-following-rock-slide-on-I-75-370568621.html
Videos at link
Posted: Mon 6:31 PM, Feb 29, 2016 | Updated: Tue 12:41 AM, Mar 01, 2016
BELL CO., Ky. (WYMT) - From Campbell County, Tennessee, to Bell, Whitley and Laurel Counties; the impacts of an Interstate 75 shutdown are visible.
This is a picture of what it looked like outside the Cumberland Gap Tunnel Monday afternoon, as traffic reached a stand still at times.
Meanwhile, traffic problems continue in Tennessee as well.
It is all because crews are having trouble stabilizing a rock slide.
Just a few years ago, a similar problem caused traffic delays for weeks.
A major detour, is slowing many down, in their travels.
When you reroute a map, showing the normal route from Lexington to Knoxville, using the US-25E detour, you can see, it only adds about 30 miles to the trip, but almost an hour of travel time.
"This is a bit of a choke point for north-south traffic. There are very few good commuter routes, going over the Cumberland Ridge, north and south,” said Gene Wesloh, Chief Ranger of the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park.
The tunnel was built years ago, to allow easier access between Southeast Kentucky and Northeast Tennessee, but one thing that slows down traffic through the tunnel, trucks carrying hazardous materials.
"They go through by themselves. Once they're through, they're released to normal traffic,” said Wesloh.
Officials tell us, they are adjusting, and doing all they can to accommodate the traffic, which is five times heavier than usual.
"We're going to have to be careful, and watch the flow of traffic,” explained Wesloh, “to make sure that we're not creating traffic jams during heavy flow times."
If you're driving in the area, expect more traffic in the area, and allow yourself more time to reach your destination.
Officials with the Tennessee Department of Transportation say I-75 southbound could be closed for up to two weeks, and northbound could be closed for up to three weeks.
Videos at link
Posted: Mon 6:31 PM, Feb 29, 2016 | Updated: Tue 12:41 AM, Mar 01, 2016
BELL CO., Ky. (WYMT) - From Campbell County, Tennessee, to Bell, Whitley and Laurel Counties; the impacts of an Interstate 75 shutdown are visible.
This is a picture of what it looked like outside the Cumberland Gap Tunnel Monday afternoon, as traffic reached a stand still at times.
Meanwhile, traffic problems continue in Tennessee as well.
It is all because crews are having trouble stabilizing a rock slide.
Just a few years ago, a similar problem caused traffic delays for weeks.
A major detour, is slowing many down, in their travels.
When you reroute a map, showing the normal route from Lexington to Knoxville, using the US-25E detour, you can see, it only adds about 30 miles to the trip, but almost an hour of travel time.
"This is a bit of a choke point for north-south traffic. There are very few good commuter routes, going over the Cumberland Ridge, north and south,” said Gene Wesloh, Chief Ranger of the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park.
The tunnel was built years ago, to allow easier access between Southeast Kentucky and Northeast Tennessee, but one thing that slows down traffic through the tunnel, trucks carrying hazardous materials.
"They go through by themselves. Once they're through, they're released to normal traffic,” said Wesloh.
Officials tell us, they are adjusting, and doing all they can to accommodate the traffic, which is five times heavier than usual.
"We're going to have to be careful, and watch the flow of traffic,” explained Wesloh, “to make sure that we're not creating traffic jams during heavy flow times."
If you're driving in the area, expect more traffic in the area, and allow yourself more time to reach your destination.
Officials with the Tennessee Department of Transportation say I-75 southbound could be closed for up to two weeks, and northbound could be closed for up to three weeks.
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