Both lanes of State Route 68 in Rhea County reopened

July 19, 2018 at 9:58 a.m. | Updated July 19, 2018 at 9:58 a.m.

by Ben Benton

Staff photo by Ben Benton / Tennessee Department of Transportation officials said weather and traffic delays are slowing the slide repair work on State Route 68 west of Spring City in Rhea County, Tenn. Here, after traffic was stopped for a lengthy delivery of materials, traffic heads down the mountain while a long line of motorists headed up wait their turn with varying levels of patience.
Staff photo by Ben Benton / Tennessee Department of Transportation officials said weather and traffic delays are slowing the slide repair work on State Route 68 west of Spring City in Rhea County, Tenn. Here, after traffic was stopped for a lengthy delivery of materials, traffic heads down the mountain while a long line of motorists headed up wait their turn with varying levels of patience.

Both lanes of State Route 68 in Rhea County were reopened to traffic early Thursday with the completion of most final details at the site of a landslide that happened back in April.

"Please be aware that TDOT crews will be finishing cleanup in the area today, so we might have someone flagging traffic occasionally as this takes place," Tennessee Department of Transportation spokeswoman Jennifer Flynn said Thursday. "Please be alert and exercise caution as you travel through the area."

Instability of the outside lane led to the closure of the road on April 24. Starting out as a crack in the pavement, the road gave way with a landslide when heavy rains weakened and washed the earth beneath the outside lane.

Repairs by contactor GeoStabilization International LLC started April 26.

Upcoming Events