State patching Calderwood's cracks; TDOT plans more safety work on The Dragon

http://www.thedailytimes.com/article...NEWS/310159977

By Iva Butler
of The Daily Times Staff




Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) started filling cracks on a section of Calderwood Highway Monday and unveiled other plans to make the Dragon section of the highway safer for motorcycles.

Tommy "Bud" Slaton, regional maintenance supervisor for TDOT, said that once the cracks are filled, the crack sealer will be allowed to cure. Workers will then resurface the affected pavement to smooth the road surface.

TDOT has received a grant through the Governor's Highway Safety Program to make the Dragon portion of Calderwood Highway safer.

The Dragon has 318 curves running 11.1 miles from the Tab Cat Creek bridge in Tennessee to Deal's Gap in North Carolina. It is a world-renown destination for motorcycle riders.

A TDOT Safety Audit Team looked at the road and came up with some safety measures.

Slaton said two dirt berms will be erected at spots where cyclists often wreck. If motorcyclists go out of the road, the berms are to keep them from going down the steep mountain, he said. Hopes are this will decrease the severity of crash injuries.

Also, one embankment will be cut back and a low shoulder will be repaired.

One problem apparently contributing to accidents is that rocks are getting thrown onto the road when vehicles drive out of the various pull off areas. To resolve this issue, TDOT will be paving wide shoulders beside the road in these areas.

Hopes are to begin some of the work on the Dragon before Thanksgiving.

Non-paving work will be done through the winter when there is less traffic, Slaton said.

Some of the paving work will be done next summer.



Originally published: October 15. 2008 3:01AM
Last modified: October 15. 2008 1:12AM

http://www.thedailytimes.com/article...NEWS/310159977
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