US129 Rock Slide v.2.0
 

OK,

I've gotten some emails and such about the rock slide.. So, I thought I give the down low..

Here is the map the TDOT is providing regarding detour and such.

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e7...ide3-16-10.jpg

As you could see the accident point is about 2-3 miles north of the lake pull of parking area..

to see this better, here is a google map.

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e7...1827PMcopy.jpg


Currently US129 is closed from North Carolina border to the scene of rock slide. I'm reading that it would be re-opened by March 26th. I'll keep you guys updated!

Phil

I just called Tennessee DOT and they told me over the phone that the road is schedule to open on Friday afternoon, March 26th, 2010

Awesomeeeeeeeeeeeee.

:party:
:party:
:party:
:party:
:party:
:party:
:party:

Thats Great news.. I was about to skip out on this event if the dragon was sleeping :) J/K

Yippy YAY Woooooooooooo!
:party: :party: :party: :party:
:driving: :driving: :driving: :driving: :driving: :driving: :driving: :driving: :driving: :driving:
:party: :party: :party: :party:

Not to rain on anyones parade........ but SDOT told us kin in my neighborhood that a certain construction project was going to be over about a year ago..... lemme explain something, I live on a peninsula - one road in or out. At the end of this rd you can turn left or right. If you turn right, there's a 4 way intersection. The 4 way intersection has been under construction for over a year. Before that was finished they backed up to the 3 way and started ripping that up. Then they moved down the street and tore that up. For about 3 weeks now they've had dozers and back-hoes PARKED in the center of the 4 way intersection and no work has been done with no reasons. I live about 2 miles from the highway and because of this construction it's taken me as long as 45 miuntes to make it to the highway... I hate this shitty sometimes.

So I'll hold off on my celebration until the Dragon is awake ;)

This is our Celebration Thread! Only Positive Thoughts Are Allowed! :o11:

:toetap05:

















































:ack2:

Says the guy with a "life is pain" avatar :smilielol5:

haha, you got me there! :001_005:

well everything I'm reading today says the dragon won't be open until 9/1!

Edit: I guess 9/1 is miss information! They just updated and said the contract will be awarded on Monday.

http://www.dealsgap.com/save-the-gap/index.html
http://www.tailofthedragon.com/index.html
www.dealsgap.com

:banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead:WTF>>ADFHS TRYUW%^N W%^NUWE%^N UW%^u:banghead::banghead::banghead::icon_bs::icon_ bs::icon_bs::icon_bs::icon_bs::icon_bs::icon_bs::i con_bs::icon_bs::icon_bs::icon_bs::icon_bs::icon_b s::cuss::cuss::cuss::cuss::cuss::cuss::cuss::cuss: :cuss::cuss::cuss::cuss::cuss::cuss::cuss::cuss::c uss::cuss::cuss:

Here's where I've been keeping up with this situation. He's the owner of the Pit Stop at the end of the Dragon. http://www.dealsgap.com/

Looks like the pitstop is awaiting on a call from TDOT... I actually talked to TDOT and the representative that I spoke with stated that 26th is the open date. For some reason its not open by that time, she told me that they will post it on the TDOT site. My guess is that it will most likely open by the time we get there. If not, they need to at least open from NC into TN for those who wants to run the dragon :)

I'm guessing they wouldn't open the border closing unless the rockslide is clear, because if they allowed anyone on the road and something were to happen, emergency services would not be able to get on site from the north, and they probably aren't willing to take the risk, nor to depend on North Carolina to carry the burden of responsibility on the Tenn. side.

You are correct..

And I was mearly joking, hence the smiley.

We shall see tomorrow afternoon if they infact clear the area and open the road... Otherwise, there are ton of great roads in the area.

Well, Looks like I was misinformed by the actual person at TN DOT..

Here is what's posted on the TN DOT website..

awesome.

Can we still access the damn?

What about all the rumors about the locals cleaning it up themselves?

B/U plan? Obviously DGRRX dates aren't going to change.

So we can't run the dragon even from the opposite end?

Is it shut down right at the biker motel? if so at least the road from there to NV is fun. And Brian I'm sure (and hopeful) that the dam can be accessed being its between the biker motel/gas station and NV.

I hope so. All the roads down there are awesome, but the Dragon is the Dragon, ya know? Where's DJ to rouse the locals? Fucking DOT's... seriously... how long does it take to clear a road? I'll go halfsies with someone to rent a dozer and move everything myself... damnit

Ok, after looking @ Phils map again....

it's closed at the NC border, which is bad, but per the two arrows, it seems that the clide is way north of what is considered the dragon, correct? Hard to tell with no scale how far is 11 miles. Between the end of the dragon and the the slide, are there any turn off's or once you're on the rd, you're on the rd?

We should just but front end loaders on all the 20b Cars. and tire chains..

Thats what I'm wondering, the slide is beyond the dragon section by the looks of it. If we could get by whatever (if any) barriers are at the bike motel you could run the dragon and turn around and come back. Even if it were just to the overlook and back.

But yeah even though the other roads are fun, they're no dragon. Will still be a good event though!

The event will still kick ass.

Here's the problem, while the slide is well beyond the Dragon, it's still TN's road and therefore TN's liability. NC has offered police and EMS service from the border to the slide to keep the rd open, but TN declined the offer. It's a liability thing. I'm sure the govenor knows all about the Dragon and why so many people are writing his office pleading with him to accept NC's offer. However, if he's not a total idiot, he also relizes WHY people are pleading to keep the rd open. If there's a slight fender bender and someone cuts thier leg surveying the damage, and NC doesn't arrive until 8 hrs later and that person has bled to death or contracted ganggreen, it's TN's rd and therefore Liabilty.

I don't like it at all, but I understand the reasoning behind it.

It also appears that the damn for the Friday meet and saturday photoshoot is no longer accesible either.

Where are you seeing this information? The Fontana Damn is off of U.S.28, not U.S. 129. I'm just asking, because the route from NV to Fontana Damn does not even hit the TN line.

Holly

Then I am mistaken.... I was under the impression that the damn was only accesible by 129. My mistake.

Well I don't know how much good this will do but I just wrote to the TN and NC government officials with this letter or a derivation of it:

Good afternoon Governor,

I am writing to ask for your help in promptly reopening US129, otherwise known as the "Tail of the Dragon". Please accept the offer of Graham County NC officials to support the 13 miles of US129 until the road can be reopened. The Tail of the Dragon is of significant importance to tourism in both TN and NC and your decision to close the entire road is adversely impacting the economy of the region, placing many jobs at risk. I am sure during these difficult economic times you will review your position on the matter and do everything in your power to keep the economy of the area vibrant and growing.

I am part of a large gathering of over 250 rotary enthusiasts gathering from around the nation that will be in the Deals Gap area April 15th through the 18th and your current plans to reopen the road on July 31st are unacceptable to us as I am sure it is to the businesses that depend on the road for their income. Put government to work and show us what can be accomplished when government functions for the good "of the people".

I appreciate the consideration and look forward to you willingness to promptly solve the issue.

Best,

David Hayes

Click here to get the emails of the officials:

http://www.dealsgap.com/save-the-gap/index.html

It can't hurt so we'll see.

Just in case, we should have one or more of the locals putting together a map of alternative cruise routes. While there is nothing like the Dragon, there are still plenty of damned good roads down there. I found several just cruising around with the wife, getting lost, so I know they're there.

David, I like the letter very much. I would however like to offer my opinions on it for anyone else that would like to write in. I deal with people personally, face to face, with difficult personal situations and with many years experience, I can basically run a meeting however I want with whoever I want.

First - very well written, proffesional, courteous, generally non-confrontational. Things that anyone who wants to write in should consider. Don't attack, threaten, say WTF are you doing you tard.... these will get you no-where.

I REALLY like this phrase, point, everything about it is phenomenal

The three things that I would change are

1) - the word enthusiast. I would say club members. Enthusiast has a certain conatation that we want to avoid. We want to sound like tourists, not like people that want to tear ass down the rd. That's the reason I believe the dragon is closed to the border.

2) placing many jobs at risk. While true, it might be viewed as a bit of a stretch and it's an assumption as well. I would site the motorcycle lodge by saying, 3) unacceptable - I wouldn't use this at all. As soon as I read that word the entire tone of that sentence was changed. It felt a little too aggressive. Not knowing the personality of the TN govenor, we should treat it as worst case scenario. For all we know he wanted to be govenor to boss people around. Hearing a word like that could provoke a response such as, FU, I'll keep it closed as long as I want. I would say
I am part of a large gathering of over 250 club members gathering from around the nation that will be in the Deals Gap area April 15th through the 18th. The current plans to reopen the road on July 31st are causing us great concern. This is an annual gathering that has been in planning since last year and we would love to see the road open in time for our gathering. I am sure the local businesses that depend on the road for their income would love to see it open as quickly as possible as well to take advantage of the near weekly gatherings of clubs/tourists that beautiful region brings.

I would also go on to say, I understand your concern with allowing NC to maintain and protect the road until your officials have unrestricted access to it, however I urge you to please reconsider the offer. Surely something can be worked out that is in everyones best interest.

Just me, but that's how I would, and plan to approach it when I write in. This is of course assuming that these are being read and not just tallied in an In-box

^Works for me. Had to try and encourage the rest of you to do the same.

How about an online petition and link all the other forums/businesses/etc to it?

working on it right now.

http://www.openus129.com/
I have only spent 10 mins on it. got to clean it up.

Anyone familiar with WP want to help?
I need content, what should I say.. T"TT help me out! :)

NICE!!!!!!!!!


I don't even know what WP is so I can't help you there. As fort what to say......... gimme some time to ponder and before I go to bed tonight I'll post something up here ;)

Here ya go, feel free to add, modify, etc etc.... offer goes to all.

Here is a link of a local motorcycle forum and you can get some more info here on the dragon and other roads. http://www.easttnriders.com/forum/index.php

If anyone belongs to these local forums, or any other forum for that matter that has anything to do with US129.... link them the petition please......

On-line petitions usually don't get much traction with politicians - they're seen as too easy and usually ignored. They are used though for total counts so I would still do it.

The best route is for individuals to send letters/call.

Time to think of alternatives. The Moonshiner 28 looks good:

http://www.moonshiner28.com/

Let's get a list going, I just made a page for it on http://www.openus129.com/

Does anyone know what the refund policy is for the hotels around the Dragon? If the road stays closed then I don't want to lose all of that money I put into a hotel that I'd have no reason to go to. That's my current stance unless we decided on an alternative route or gathering point.

You'll just have to call the hotel, where did you make reservations?




http://www.openus129.com/