TDOT Bans Trucks on ‘The Dragon’

TDOT has placed a ban on vehicles over thirty feet from driving on a portion of U.S. 129 (SR 115) in Blunt County, Tennessee.

The stretch of highway is known as “The Dragon.”  It spans 11.1 miles.

The ban was announced on Tuesday.

According to a press release from TDOT, “from 2010-2012, there were a total of 204 crashes from the Tennessee/North Carolina State Line to Tabcat Bridge (Log Mile 11.19) in Blount Count.” Six of the accidents involved fatalities.

TDOT says that while only one of the fatal crashes involved a truck, that a number of the other crashes involved trucks.  “Due to the curvy and narrow roadway, incidents involving tractor trailers usually block the highway for several hours and prevent travel for all motorists,” the TDOT press release states.

“North Carolina has similar restrictions for truck traffic on US 129 from the Tennessee/North Carolina State Line to the Graham (NC) County Line,” TDOT states.

Signs will be installed mid-January to alert drivers that trucks are prohibited.