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Blasting begins on I-40 rock slide

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

(Updated 4:39 pm)

ASHEVILLE (AP) — Blasting is under way as crews try to reopen Interstate 40 near the North Carolina-Tennessee state line where a massive rock slide closed the road late last month.

The Asheville Citizen-Times reported today that workers are trying to topple large boulders hanging 150 feet up at the top of the slope that gave way.

The 500,000-ton slide closed I-40 in both directions. N.C. Transportation Department technician Mike Patton said the blasting that rained rocks 200 yards away will help make it possible for workers to clear the road safely.

The highway department has said it will take at least four months to get two lanes open. The cleanup could cost $10 million.

Accompanying Photos

Bill Sanders (Associated Press)

Photo Caption: This was the first blast to remove large rocks from the top of a rock slide on Interstate 40 in Haywood County, west of Asheville, on Tuesday.Workers will be blasting for several days to clear the upper part of the slide so material on the roadway can saf...

PHOTOS

See photos of the blasting at the Asheville Citizen-Times Web site.

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Doug Johnson

November 4, 2009 - 7:09 pm EST

The shame of this, engineers told the Raleigh Mafia exactly what would happen if they built I 40 in this area.
Of course the Raleigh Mafia, put votes ahead of safety, and taxpayers cost.
you can get away with this, when you enjoy protection from the liberal media.
The next sham in NC is tax reform.
When you read are hear about it, its going to be a tax cut.
Truth is the liberals want about 1.5 billion dollars from your pockets.
Got to give teachers and state employees pay raise to buy votes.
Got lots of pork buying votes into Purdue plan.
So hang on to your pocket book, the Raleigh Mafia is coming.