A large rock slide completely closed down Highway 19E in Roan Mountain near the state line for two hours on Tuesday afternoon.
According to officials with the Tennessee Department of Transportation, the rock slide was reported around 1:45 p.m. on Highway 19E, also known as State Route 37, near the intersection with Bear Branch Road, just about one mile from the state line.
The Carter County Sheriff’s Office and Tennessee Highway Patrol responded to the scene along with a work crew from TDOT, who immediately began working to clear a path for traffic. Around 4 p.m., TDOT spokesperson Mark Nagi said the crew had cleared one lane of travel.
“Traffic is moving through there and we have flaggers in place,” Nagi said.
While one lane was cleared quickly, Nagi said it would take some time to break up the large boulders and completely reopen the highway.
“I think this is something that is going to take a while to handle,” Nagi said. “It would not surprise me for us to have flaggers and crews in place throughout the evening.”
The TDOT crew on scene were waiting for additional equipment to arrive on scene from the TDOT yard in Knoxville to help bust up and remove the large boulders. Nagi said a “large rock hammer” was being sent to the scene for the crew.
Around 10 p.m. Tuesday night, Nagi sent out a statement that flaggers would remain on scene at the rockslide to continue directing traffic through the night. He said one lane remained open and work would continue today to clear the remaining two lanes of boulders.
The rock slide was likely caused by freezing water which had thawed, according to TDOT. Water gets in behind boulders and when temperatures drop it freezes and expands, which loosens the rocks. Then when temperatures rise the water thaws and causes the rocks to slide.
Carter County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Mike Carlock said no injuries were reported as a result of the rock slide.