Monday, August 26, 2019 – Road access to the area was restored. N.C. Department of Transportation crews worked around the clock on U.S. 19/74 to open the highway through the Nantahala Gorge closed by mudslides. NCDOT crews are removing debris for U.S. 19/74 in the Nantahala Gorge. Nantahala – The latest U.S. 19/74 mudslide only halted traffic for 18 hours. This hillside in the Nantahala Gorge suffered a slide on Jan. 4 that closed the highway and forced NCDOT officials to set up a small catchment area and install the traffic signal for the safety of … BRYSON CITY – N.C. Department of Transportation crews have cleared and reopened U.S. 19/74 in the Nantahala Gorge after a slide closed the highway on Friday night. Officials say the rockslide on U.S. 19/74 in the Nantahala Gorge brought mud and debris down from a "troublesome" location near Hewitts Road, where another slide closed the highway one month ago. NCDOT officials expect to open U.S. 19-74 in the Nantahala Gorge around 8 p.m. Aug. 26 following two days and two nights of cleanup and repairs from four slides. NCDOT crews from Cherokee and Graham counties are preparing to remove debris from a slide at the western end of the gorge. Following the event, NCGS produced a series of progressively updated maps on August 27 th and 29 th , and September 10 th to support responders and stakeholders. An NCDOT notification shows the slide happened around 7:30 pm Saturday. Body. NCDOT crews from four counties responded to the damage and helped open the highway 24 hours earlier than the initial estimate. The highway has been closed for four weeks for NCDOT crews and contract forces to secure an unstable area susceptible to landslides. NCDOT reported a cost of $500,000 for highway cleanup and repair, and the Nantahala Outdoor Center lost a reported ~$300,000 in rafting business while the river was closed over Labor Day weekend. Saturday, August 24, 2019 – Significant rainfall created multiple mudslides in the Nantahala Gorge area. Crews are working to clear enough space for the stranded vehicles to get out of the gorge area. NCDOT officials reported that all vehicles previously stuck between slides have exited the Nantahala Gorge. NCDOT crews from Cherokee and Graham counties are preparing to remove debris from a slide at the western end of the gorge. “This is unprecedented in the Nantahala Gorge,” Division 14 Engineer Brian Burch said. NCDOT officials reported that all vehicles previously stuck between slides have exited the Nantahala Gorge. Newly engaged couple, Molly LaRue and Geoffrey Logan Hood, wanted to see the world before settling down. This hillside in the Nantahala Gorge suffered a slide on Jan. 4 that closed the highway and forced NCDOT officials to set up a small catchment area and install the traffic signal for the safety of … They were very active hikers and were commonly known around the hiking community as Nalgene and Cleavis. Earlier Sunday, vehicles were stuck between slides in the gorge and NCDOT said that a path was cleared for the vehicles. A small slide has closed U.S. 19/74 in the Nantahala Gorge until about 3 p.m. today. Henderson County (Aug 26, 2019) - BRYSON CITY – N.C. Department of Transportation crews are working around the clock on U.S. 19/74 until the highway is open through the Nantahala Gorge. Crews from Swain and Jackson counties are … SYLVA, N.C. (WLOS) — N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT) says U.S. 19/74 through the Nantahala Gorge will reopen Saturday evening, April 4. NCDOT has reopened US 19/74 in Nantahala Gorge . Kevin Hensley. A press release says a temporary signal will condense the highway to one lane beside the … Update 1/11/2020: NC DOT has announced that the road through the Nantahala Gorge will be closed until Monday at 7am. “This is unprecedented in the Nantahala Gorge,” Division 14 Engineer Brian Burch said. A contractor for the N.C. Department of Transportation will hire a sub-contractor to loosen and remove additional rock near Ferebee Memorial Picnic Area in order to prevent dangerous boulders, rocks and trees from reaching the road. Over the past week, tension cracks and a new escarpment have developed above the slide location along U.S. 19/74 in the Nantahala Gorge. “We have engineers on site, equipment on site, and crews on site working with state highway patrol and local responders to help get people out as quickly and safely as possible tonight.” Crews diverted water from the mountain to a ditch and pipe to prevent road erosion overnight. Nantahala Gorge set to reopen ... and triggered slides that covered the road in four locations within a half-mile stretch on the western side of the gorge. “This is unprecedented in the Nantahala Gorge,” Division 14 Engineer Brian Burch said. A severe deluge dropped 3.5 inches of rain in the gorge on Saturday night and triggered slides that covered the road in four locations within a half-mile stretch on the western side of the gorge. A temporary detour has been established around the Nantahala Gorge. On September 4th, 2019 the Nantahala River in the Nantahala Gorge was reopened to the public for all uses. Both the river and the road became inaccessible. The slides occurred between Ferebee Park on the western side of the gorge and the Nantahala Outdoor Center eight miles to the east. NCDOT Reports Six Positive COVID-19 Tests Among Pamlico Sound Ferry Staff Dec 16, 2020 - 3:25 pm The N.C. Department of Transportation has reported that six employees on the Pamlico Sound ferry route between Cedar Island and Ocracoke have tested positive for COVID-19. The Forest Service warns visitors to be aware that the landslides in the Nantahala Gorge changed the river in some places and urged paddlers to use caution. Friday, August 7, 2020. Gorge re-opens after slide. Routes 19 and 74 through the Nantahala Gorge are closed today and tomorrow. Crews finish clearing sections of US-19/74 in the Nantahala Gorge, August 26, 2019 (From: NCDOT) ... after three and a half inches of rain fell on the area causing mudslides in the Nantahala Gorge. NCDOT. Molly U.S. The overall project, from Andrews to Almond, would complete a four-lane expressway from Cherokee County to Asheville. The slides occurred between Ferebee Park on the western side of the gorge and the Nantahala Outdoor Center eight miles to the east. NCDOT officials reported that all vehicles previously stuck between slides have exited the Nantahala Gorge. Swain County Sheriff Curtis Cochran confirms a pair of landslides have law enforcement officers and civilians trapped in the Nantahala River Gorge. From Aquone, SR 1442 follows the Nantahala River to Beechertown , where it joins U.S. 19 / 74 , which the byway follows to its ending point in the community of Lauada . State department of transportation crews are working to clean up debris caused by the landslide that happened on Saturday. TOPTON – A rockslide has closed U.S. 19/74 in the Nantahala Gorge for the remainder of today and at least through the daylight hours on Friday. U.S. 19/74 Through Nantahala Gorge Open Again Traffic signal remains at slide location SYLVA – N.C. Department of Transportation officials will reopen U.S. 19/74 through the Nantahala Gorge on Saturday evening. NCDOT says a section of US-19/75 in the Nantahala Gorge is expected to be closed for a few days after the mudslide disrupted traffic and drivers had to be freed. Almost three inches of rain caused four mudslides in a five-mile stretch between Hewitts Road and the Nantahala Outdoor Center. “This is unprecedented in the Nantahala Gorge,” Division 14 Engineer Brian Burch said. The project is part of an overall project to bypass the current routing through the Nantahala Gorge, where bottlenecks are common along the two-lane highway through protected valley area within the Nantahala National Forest. The highway has been closed for the last four weeks in order for NCDOT crews and contract forces to secure an unstable area susceptible to landslides. From Franklin, the Mountain Waters Scenic Byway follows SR 1442 to the west, climbing through Wayah Gap (elevation: 4,180 ft) on the way to Nantahala Lake and then to the community of Aquone. N.C. 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