RALEIGH -A section of U.S. 176
located four miles south of Saluda in Polk County will remain closed a few more weeks as NCDOT engineers determine how to prevent
additional rockslides onto the highway.
The highway was closed early this month because rocks and mud began sliding
onto the road. Engineers from the NCDOT Geotechnical Unit decided to have the
remaining part of the slide area removed for the safety of motorists. That work
was completed this week, but then rocks came down from higher up on the
mountainside.
The next step will be determining how to secure the higher location, perhaps
with a retaining wall and/or with wire netting to keep additional boulders and
rocks from getting to the highway. A contractor would have to be hired to
do that work, which could mean an extension of the closure.
No homes are cut off, with residents north of the slide able to get to Saluda
and those to the south able to get to Tryon. A signed detour route is in place,
with motorists traveling west turning right onto N.C. 108 to reach I-26 West.
They can take Exit 59 and turn left onto Ozone Drive to get back to U.S. 176.
Eastbound drivers on U.S. 176 can take that detour route in reverse.
For real-time travel information, visit the Traveler
Services section of NCDOT.gov or follow NCDOT on Twitter.
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