Cherohala Skyway collapse

[rktmanfj]

http://www.grahamstar.com/articles/2013/01/17/breaking_news/doc50f86f49a2530449359649.txt

North Carolina transportation officials say it may be several months before the Cherohala Skyway can be reopened after part of the westbound pavement collapsed 1,000 feet into a ravine in Graham County Thursday, Jan. 17.

The collapsed roadway is located about one-tenth of a mile west of the Stratton Meadow Bridge, approximately a mile from the Tennessee state line.

The slide is about 150 feet wide and 1,000 feet deep. On Thursday, the sound of falling boulders could still be heard cascading below, as the slide continued. Muddy rivulets descended into the chasm.

Graham County has been pounded by 9 inches of rain during a three-day period, according to Tom Ward, an official National Weather Service observer in the county.

Joel Setzer, district engineer with NCDOT in Sylva, said there have been 22 slides in Graham County, the most in the region.

Setzer said Thursday he expects the Skyway will be closed for at least two months.

The engineer described the slide as a "fill dirt slide," which destroys pavement and knocks out roads for longer periods of time than "cut slides." In cut slides boulders and debris fall on the roadway from high "cuts," the engineer said.

"You just clean them up," Setzer said.

Fill-dirt slides are more expensive and complex.

The Newfound Gap slide in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is also a fill slide, Setzer said.

NCDOT officials were installing directional  and detour signs in Robbinsville and at the Skyway Thursday afternoon.

[Firehawk068]

I also saw US 441 is also closed due to being washed away today................Be careful you guys over there in NC/TN

[Pat Conlon]

Well, that road is long enough where you can still have a hell of a ride...up to the closed portion, then turn around and return....with no traffic to worry about.
The Cherohala is in my top 3 roads I've ever ridden ....a remarkable road.

[rktmanfj]

Now reopened:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151257869518067.464353.189631058066&type=1

[ddlewis]

Now reopened:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151257869518067.464353.189631058066&type=1

http://www.roadrunner.travel/2013/01/25/cherohala-skyway-to-reopen-soon/
pic of the slide:

[dogtired]

Still using I-beams to hang rail on... Should be using c-section posts, less damage to riders.
Also very surprised they aren't using motorcycle barriers below the armco rail.
Perhaps the AMA should concentrate on lobbying for real safety for bike riders instead of lobbying for loud pipes...
Guard rail posts scare the living crap out of me.

[FJmonkey]

Real meat grinders unless you high-side and go over them.

[Firehawk068]

I had a friend in NY, who (while riding his snowmobile) didn't make a turn at high speed. His leg went underneath the armco, and the rest of him went over it..........They were not able to save his leg............Scary stuff indeed.

[rktmanfj]

One of those triple cable & I-beam barriers is what jacked up Chris M's right leg a few years ago.     

[ddlewis]

Still using I-beams to hang rail on... Should be using c-section posts, less damage to riders. ...

These look like wooden posts to me..  but point taken on the i-beam posts which are out there.

[Flying Scotsman]

I can vouch for metal raillings and I beams being dangerous for bikes.I have an I beam scar on my chest/shoulder area.Railling cut up my Left leg and bike banged up the Right leg.I beam caught me in the chest on the way over.Pointer finger on my left hand was cut down to the bone I think by the clutch lever.All I remember thinking is that wasnt a safety barrier,that could have killed me.I had a moment on the 90 it was after the roads had dried and i was getting on the expressway.Road wasnt dry after all and I couldnt turn.

[PaulG]

Crap!  That road was on my route back from Austin TX (see Travel or Join for a Ride sections for Toronto to Austin MotoGP).  We will be leaving Chattanooga, TN to Greenville, NC, via the Cherohala Skyway-Deals Gap-E Lamar Alexander Pkwy-then south E down the 441 etc.  This will be the last week of April/13.

I bookmarked the NCDOT page to keep an eye on it.  I would imagine that they would have to completely close it to do a permanent fix.  If you come across any updates, could you post them? Would be greatly appreciated.