Rain delays work cleaning up I-40 rock slide
ASHEVILLE (AP) — Crews are hoping they can begin drilling rocks at the top of a massive rock slide on Interstate 40 near the North Carolina-Tennessee state line after rain delayed their progress over the weekend.
N.C. Department of Transportation inspector Mike Patton said heavy rains Saturday halted work after the slide area became unstable.
But the Asheville Citizen-Times reported Monday that crews returned the next day to try to move a drill rig they hope to use to test stability near the top of the slide and drill holes for explosives to blow up debris.
The rock slide more than a week ago will keep the interstate closed for at least four months. N.C. Transportation officials say the cleanup could cost $10 million, and Gov. Bev Perdue has declared the slide an emergency.
Accompanying Photos
Photo Caption: A rock slide is seen from the westbound lanes looking east on Interstate 40 in Haywood County, west of Asheville.
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