In Jan. 24-30, 2008 issue
By Greg Wells
Times Journal Managing Editor


The Kentucky Highway Dept. has erected a barricade and warning signs where large rocks have recently fallen from the high cliff beside U.S. 127 at Wolf Creek Dam.

WOLF CREEK DAM - After a serious rock-fall earlier in the month, officials with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet ordered barriers to be placed along U.S. 127 on the south side of Wolf Creek Dam to protect motorists.

Jeff Dick, with the cabinet's office in Somerset, said specialists from Frankfort had been called in to examine the cliff face and they are in the process of determining the best way to prevent future falling rocks from smashing into vehicles on that section of the highway.

Dick said that among the options are placing cables and netting on the slope to control falling rocks, or blasting off loose rock on the cliff.

"The Corps said we're allowed to blast there if we need to," Dick said.
He said there is no time-line yet on when the work will be done because the decision hasn't been made yet on how best to protect drivers along that section of the road.

For the time being the concrete barriers and the warning signs have been placed along side the road to offer better warning and protection as a temporary measure.

Some of the falling rocks from the high vertical cliff have been large enough to cause severe damage.