Rockslide closes U.S. Highway 64 in Polk County

photo Before Wednesday night's rockslide on Highway 64, debris could be seen poking through fencing from a smaller slide on Monday.

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Motorists who travel U.S. 64 face an 81-mile detour today after state transportation officials closed the road because of a large rockslide.

The rockslide, which occurred about 9 p.m. Wednesday night, was in the same place of a January 2010 slide.

After the 2010 slide, Tennessee Department of Transportation crews installed a rockfall fence, Jennifer Flynn, spokeswoman for the Tennessee Department of Transportation, said in a news release.

"Fortunately the rockfall fence held back most of the material, but the catchment area is full and in danger of overflowing the fence," she said.

The location of the slide is near SR-30 and Maddens Branch at log mile 11, Flynn said.

The road will remain closed until TDOT can determine "what we're up against," she said in the release.

TDOT personnel are on the scene manning detour routes, and there are message boards to inform motorists, Flynn said.

For those traveling east on U.S. 64, take U.S. 411 in Ocoee, take a right on SR-68 in Madisonville, then back to U.S. 64 in Ducktown.

For those traveling west on U.S. 64, take SR-68 in Ducktown to U.S. 411 in Madisonville, then back to U.S. 64 in Ocoee.

Most of the detour is on four-lane highway, Flynn said.

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