Travelers on Alcoa Highway experienced unexpected disruptions Friday morning as northbound lanes were closed due to blasting activities. WVLT reported that the closure occurred near Woodson Drive after the controlled explosions, designed to clear space for road improvements, resulted in unexpected debris scattering across the highway. Traffic was redirected at John Sevier Highway as Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) crews rushed to the scene.
Despite the sudden closure creating a mild chaos amongst morning commuters, TDOT spokesperson Mark Nagi confirmed that the southbound traffic on Alcoa Highway remained unhindered. In a statement obtained by WATE, Nagi explained, "This is an example of why we have rolling roadblocks during blasting activities because it is possible [for] materials to end up in the roadway, even when not expected/intended."
Stranded motorists found their travels delayed as the northbound traffic queued up for about a mile past Topside Road. The hold-up stemmed from a sizeable clean-up operation necessitated by substantial rocks and assorted debris which had careened down from the blast site. As reported by WBIR, TDOT did not initially provide an exact timeline for when the road would be cleared, contributing to the uncertainty fed by the blocked traffic artery.
Fortune swung back in favor of the troubled traveler when, merely an hour later, TDOT successfully cleared the debris, and Nagi shared that the northbound lanes were reopened at 12:36 p.m.
