The section of U.S. 64 between Buck Creek Road and Brush Creek Road is set to undergo closure for over two weeks as a response to damages caused by heavy storms on Tuesday. NCDOT engineers convened with GeoStabilization Inc officials in the Cullasaja Gorge on Wednesday to discuss the repair strategy. The proposed plan includes the installation of micro-piles, the construction of a wall atop these piles, and the finalization with shoulder construction.
Engineering plans are expected to be completed late this week, with construction crews commencing the two-week project on Monday, pending approval of the plans. The total project cost will be determined post-approval. Barring any weather-related or unforeseen delays, the Cullasaja Gorge is projected to reopen by the end of the month. A designated detour for passenger vehicles along Buck Creek Road has been established, with trucks not permitted on the detour route.
Throughout the closure period, NCDOT maintenance crews will not only address the embankment repair but also replace aging drainage pipes with larger ones, clear ditches, trim overhanging limbs, employ long-arm mowing to tackle overgrown vegetation, and conduct other necessary operations that cannot be carried out with live traffic.
Motorists are advised by NCDOT officials to plan their routes in advance, stay vigilant, and factor in extra travel time during this construction period.
