I just returned from the mountains, where we had a wonderful ceremony Tuesday to mark the reopening of the stretch of Interstate 40 that had been closed since Oct. 25 because of a rockslide.
Cleaning up and stabilizing the mountain was a tremendous challenge. Crews spent months battling harsh winter weather as they blasted and removed 7,000 truckloads of rocks – enough to cover 37 football fields with a one-foot layer of rock. They also used a helicopter to install 540 rock bolts deep into the slope.
It was a real team effort, involving DOT officials from North Carolina and Tennessee, the Federal Highway Administration and the National Forest Service. They received tremendous support from Gov. Perdue, other state and local elected officials, the tourism community, the media and, of course, the public. It was an honor to be able to acknowledge their contributions at the recently reopened Welcome Center at mile marker 10.5.
It was a privilege to share the podium with Board of Transportation member Conrad Burrell and Cece Hipps, Executive Director of the Haywood County Chamber of Commerce, who noted the hardships endured by local residents as well as interstate truckers and travelers for whom I-40 is not just a road but a lifeline.
We marked a major milestone on Tuesday but we recognize that our job is not done. While the road is now safe for travel, crews will continue work through the summer to stabilize several sites in the area. Although it was cold and rainy outside, a warm spirit reined inside the Welcome Center. Every member of the rockslide team had a reason to smile as we watched the cars and trucks stream by on I-40.