Landslide closes Highway 19W
As of presstime, a landslide that cut off both lanes of traffic on Highway 19W in Yancey County is still blocking the way due to an exceptionally large boulder that settled in the center of the road.
According to Gina Duncan with Yancey County Communications, the landslide was first reported at 7:48 a.m. on the morning of Wednesday, Jan. 16. The slide occurred on Highway 19W, northwest of Burnsville, approximately 12.5 miles from the intersection of Highway 19W and Highway 19E, according to Duncan.
Fortunately, an efficient detour allows motorists to avoid the site via Jack’s Creek Road and Coxes Creek Road.
A major part of the mass of the landslide included an enormous boulder that settled in the road, which made clearing the road an arduous task for DOT workers.
According to Duncan, DOT originally estimated a week’s work to clear the debris and reopen Highway 19W to traffic.
According to Gina Duncan with Yancey County Communications, the landslide was first reported at 7:48 a.m. on the morning of Wednesday, Jan. 16. The slide occurred on Highway 19W, northwest of Burnsville, approximately 12.5 miles from the intersection of Highway 19W and Highway 19E, according to Duncan.
Fortunately, an efficient detour allows motorists to avoid the site via Jack’s Creek Road and Coxes Creek Road.
A major part of the mass of the landslide included an enormous boulder that settled in the road, which made clearing the road an arduous task for DOT workers.
According to Duncan, DOT originally estimated a week’s work to clear the debris and reopen Highway 19W to traffic.
