U.S. 64 connecting Chattanooga and Cleveland to Copperhill, Tenn.; McCaysville, Ga., and North Carolina still is expected to be open by March 31 after being closed by a major rock slide on Nov. 10.
Work has not begun yet on a second, smaller slide that occurred on Jan. 19, though it is expected to be cleared before the larger one, according to Tennessee Department of Transportation spokeswoman Jennifer Flynn. The contracted cost to clear the largest slide is $2.1 million. The contracted cost to clear the smaller slide, which occurred 7 miles from the first slide, is $759,000.
On Monday, crews drilled the side of the slope above the major slide in preparation for a pre-split blast to bring down the remaining outcrop of unstable rock hanging above the road.
By the numbers
* 49 days until all work is done