Some roads may remain closed today following torrential rains over the weekend.
County workers scrambled Monday to reopen more than 25 mud-covered, soggy roads after rain saturated the area, but at least one route will require more work.
Montlake Road, which runs a winding course through the Soddy-Daisy area, was covered in mud and rock after about 2 1/4 inches of rain fell in a matter of hours Sunday. Over five days, the area was pelted with more than 3 1/4 inches of rain.
U.S. 64 UPDATEBad weather slowed repair work on U.S. Highway 64 in Polk County this weekend, but workers were able to set off several blasts to remove loose rock at the site. On Monday, climbers scaled the mountain to hand-remove loose rock and assembled a new 150-ton crane that will be used to install huge metal bolts into the rock for support. U.S. 64 has been closed since Nov. 10.
“Due to the huge rocks and debris, special equipment will have to be brought in to do the rock removal,” said Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Janice Atkinson. “At this time, the projected time will be at least three days to clear the roadway.”
The road is on Mowbray Mountain, northeast of Soddy-Daisy near U.S. Highway 27. It is closed in the 800 block between Terrace Falls and the Pocket Wilderness, according to a sheriff’s office release.
County road crews worked overnight on Montlake Road to get it open as quickly as possible, county mayor spokesman Mike Dunne said.
“We are going to work overnight until we can get it done,” Mr. Dunne said.
Mr. Dunne wasn’t sure if the three-day estimate would hold. He said the county has brought in a contractor to assist the county road maintenance crews. The road will reopen “when it’s done,” Mr. Dunne said.
“Obviously, we are committed to getting that road open as quickly as we can, and we’re working hard to do that,” he said.
There were two car accidents Monday on Montlake Road. No one was injured, but the accidents were related to the mudslide, according to a sheriff’s news release.
The W Road up Walden’s Ridge also was closed for most of Monday and into the evening hours.
On Sunday, Chattanooga police reported more than 25 roads in the county were impassable because of mud, standing water or fallen rock, spokeswoman Lt. Kim Noorbergen said. Those were all reopened by Monday morning’s commutes, she said.
Conditions will continue to be dry today and Wednesday with temperatures in the 40s and breezy conditions, according to NewsChannel 9 chief meteorologist David Glenn. But Thursday and Friday and into the weekend, weather conditions will deteriorate.
“Friday we are going to have the combination of a lot of cold air coming in and some moisture left over,” Mr. Glenn said. “That could lead to a wintry mix. That means rain could change to freezing rain, sleet and some snow mixed in there.”
On the upside, the five days of wet conditions brought the area out of a January rain deficit, Mr. Glenn said.