Repairs continue to a section of Highway 68 in between Grandview and Spring City in Rhea County. Tennessee Department of Transportation spokeswoman Jennifer Flynn told 105.7 News today that the repairs are going well and should be completed sometime after the first of 2020, depending on the weather this winter. Currently it is down to one lane controlled by a temporary traffic light at the area that tried to collapse earlier this year.

“Loose material is being removed from the area and the slope will be stabilized using soil nailing. Soil nailing is an on-site soil reinforcement technique where soil nails are placed into the natural ground at relatively close spacing to increase the strength of the soil mass. As the bars are being drilled, grout is inserted into the hole to ensure that the soil nail stays put. A steel reinforced concrete wall will be constructed that encompasses the soil nails to form a retaining structure along with means to drain water from the slope behind the wall. The upper portion of the retaining structure will be backfilled with new material and the roadway will be rebuilt,” said Flynn.