NEWPORT-Cocke County officials are pursing all available avenues in an effort to minimize and resolve problems resulting from the Oct. 25 rockslide on Interstate 40 in Haywood County, N.C.

Cocke County Mayor Iliff McMahan told the Plain Talk Thursday that he has met with both state and federal officials during the past two weeks to seek assistance.

Among the requests made by McMahan are changes in language on TDOT signs addressing the slide, state and federal disaster aid and coordinated efforts between elected officials and TDOT and NCDOT and getting the slide cleared as soon as possible.

"When this happened, I was in Washington, D.C., on other issues," said McMahan. "Once this happened, it became a priority.

"I met with U.S. Sens. Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker and their staff, along with U.S. Rep. Phil Roe. I asked for disaster relief and for them to work with their North Carolina counterparts to move as quickly as possible."

If granted, McMahan said has yet to be determined how the aid could be used.

Of immediate concern, McMahan said he stressed the need to get two lanes opened on I-40 (one going each way) as soon as possible...even if only for passenger traffic.

On the state level, McMahan said he talked with Paul Deggs, chief engineer with TDOT, requesting the signs concerning the slide have the language changed to minimize impact on Cocke County.

In particular, McMahan said he was concerned that all motorists were being directed to take Interstate 81 to Interstate 26 to proceed to Asheville, N.C.

"Paul Deggs called me and I asked him to coordinate with NCDOT to help with the effort," said McMahan. "He said 'it's done.' I also asked for the governors to work together and for the signage to be changed.

"Then, last week, Partnership President Don Hurst and I had planned a trip to Nashville. While there we spoke with state Rep. Eddie Yokely, Deggs, TDOT Deputy Commissioner Randy Lovett and Transportation Administrator Christ Christianson. They were all great.

"I told Deggs that the language on the signs had not been changed. He was surprised and said he would take care of it. Today, I noticed they had started making changes to the signs."

McMahan said he was requesting the signs reflect that the 1-81 to 1-26 route be made for commercial traffic (trucks and large vehicles), for passenger vehicles to be advised that Highway 25/70 could be accessed from exits 432, 435 and 440 of Interstate 40, Highway 321 to Gatlinburg could be accessed from exits 435 and 440 and to point out all Tennessee exits of I-40 are open.

McMahan said many business owners in Cocke County are being impacted by the slide and said that's why Hurst has suggested a Town Hall meeting at 4 p.m. this Tuesday to allow the public to ask questions concerning the rockslide.

McMahan said most local officials along with TDOT representatives are expected to be on hand to answer questions.

"What we have to concentrate on is how we put an emergency plan and work with local, state, regional and federal parties to create and implement a proactive and progressive action plan to solve this problem as soon as we can," said McMahan.

"We need to look at short-term solutions like getting signage change to long-term plans of getting two lanes and then four lanes open.

"This is a complex situation and therefore the solutions are just as complex and require involvment from all stakeholders in these decisions for a solid plan of action to achieve results. The people who own and operate businesses and depend on the traveling public deserve nothing less."