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Associated Press - November 11, 2009 12:45 PM ET
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) - A second rock slide has closed U.S. 64 in East Tennessee in both directions, and a state transportation spokeswoman says it could be three weeks before the scenic highway along the Ocoee River reopens.
The first slide happened about 6 a.m. EST Tuesday at mile marker 17 near Ducktown. The second rock slide about seven hours later, caught on videos shot by the Chattanooga Times Free Press and WDEF-TV, has further complicated the cleanup.
Tennessee Department of Transportation spokeswoman Julie Oaks said Wednesday that geologists are helping determine how much work must be done to reopen the road. She said the department will use an emergency contract to remove an estimated 1,400 dump-truck loads of rock and dirt.
Traffic is being rerouted in the meantime.
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