MACON COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — Heavy rains Tuesday washed away a section of U.S. 64 in the Cullasaja Gorge in Macon County, forcing a road closure and detour.
NCDOT officials said the rain overwhelmed the drainage system, washing out an 80-foot embankment below the road.
“Goes almost all the way to the center line underneath the road,” NCDOT spokesman David Uchiyama said of the wash.
He said, for the time being, part of the road through the Cullasaja Gorge is shut down as repairs get underway.
The initial design involves installing micro-piles, building a wall atop the piles and finishing with shoulder construction, which is estimated to cost $275,000.
U.S. 64 IN CULLASAJA GORGE TO BE CLOSED SEVERAL WEEKS TO REPAIR STORM-DAMAGED EMBANKMENT
Both directions of U.S. 64 between Brush Creek and Buck Creek are closed. The alternate route is Buck Creek Road. However, no trucks are allowed on Buck Creek Road, Uchiyama said.
“We use the gorge a lot,” Irene Locklear said.
For locals like her, the closure adds time to getting to Highlands.
“A little extra time, yes, because it's longer going Buck Creek than it is the other way,” Locklear said.
The closure is also something first responders must consider.
“If we have calls in our area that's affected by the road closure, Highlands is going to respond down along with the Macon EMS,” Cullasaja Fire and Rescue Chief Bobby Henry said.
Despite the closure, he said people in the area will be properly covered in an emergency.
“Yes sir,” Henry said.
MORE RAIN ON THE WAY FOR WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AS SEVERAL ROADS, PARKS STILL FLOODED
The shutdown does open an opportunity.
“During the closure, NCDOT crews will conduct other maintenance -- replace several old drainage pipes with new and larger pipes. We will clear ditches, trim overhanging limbs, long-arm mow overgrown areas,” Uchiyama said.
With the road closure, the DOT is taking the opportunity to remind drivers to plan ahead.
“Plan the detour into their schedule and remember, please no trucks on Buck Creek Road,” Uchiyama said.
The DOT expects repairs to be done by the end of the month.
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Motorists, first responders adjust as $275,000 repairs start on U.S. 64 in Cullasaja Gorge - WLOS
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