Polk County Faces a Long Wait for Corridor K

It's been on the drawing board for more than 40 years, but a by-pass of the Ocoee Gorge is still years away.

TDOT says the rock slide that closed U.S. highway 64 on Tuesday is just more proof that something will have to be done.

In the meantime, parts of Polk county remain isolated from the rest of the state.

WDEF News 12's Bill Mitchell tonight tracks the progress, or lack of progress, on corridor K.

The sheer size of the project is daunting. In order to build an alternate highway from Bradley county to Murphy, North Carolina, half a dozen agencies and special interest groups must be included in the planning. Not the least of which is the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

JULIE OAKS, TDOT SPOKESPERSON "It's a relevant discussion to be having ..You know, we've moving forward with the project..and we still intend to move forward and get it built..eventually."

"Eventually", could mean 15 to 20 years from now. Polk county leaders have been urging the state and federal government to do something about the problem since the 60's. The plan got a revision in 2008, and some meetings have already been held.

MIKE STINNETT, COUNTY EXECUTIVE "I think to solve this problem..it's going to have to come from Nashville..the federal money is appropriated..it's there for a new road."

If Corridor K is built, it's estimated to cost more than a billion dollars. Eighty percent of the money would come from the Federal government and 20% from the state.

In the meantime, the county is divided into two communities--Benton and Copper Basin.

Hundreds of residents in the county are dealing with it. Ivy Deal is a deputy clerk at the courthouse in Benton. She lives in Copper Basin and got up at 5 this morning and drove 2 hours to work.

IVY DEAL, COPPER BASIN "Something needs to be done."

County executive Stinnett agrees.

MIKE STINNETT "If this slide had occurred in the summer, where it happened at, there would have been casualties.

Locals think the massive rock slide Tuesday should give the project a big shove, despite unresolved political and environmental concerns.

More meetings are scheduled for January and February, but a final environmental impact statement is not expected until 2013.