I rode up today to see for myself, and yes, 129 (aka The Dragon) is still blocked by the massive, and seeming getting worse, rock slide. Honestly, I was hoping to be able to get a closeup view of the scene, but TDOT has the road blocked right at the base of the Foothills Parkway.
They have done one very nice gesture, and that is put a person there to redirect the heartbroken out of towners who didn't know the Dragon was out of commission for the time being. The lady that was there today in the oppressive heat (she ask that I didn't use her name) was extremely nice, and had a map with her so she could show people the best way to get to the other side of the Dragon.
You can still ride the twisty parts, but you have to come in from the North Carolina side, which means going through Tellico, and across the Cherohala to Robbinsville (a great ride itself).
According to the press the contractor has a $195,000 incentive to have it open by July 1st (19 days). they also say that there is a very large "unstable mass" of rock that they have measured to have slid 4 feet, and that this has to be dealt with first. Estimated completion is July 31st.
To see some video of the slide go to http://news.tennesseeanytime.org/node/5320
I hope the contractor hasn't spent that $200 Grand yet!
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