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Montlake Road Now Open After Mudslide

January 28, 2010 7:15 pm update:

Montlake Road is now open to traffic. Hamilton County Highway Department work crews have worked around the clock night and day to clear the roadway from the huge boulder that crashed down on the road early Monday morning January 25^th.

Harold Austin Hamilton County Highway Department Director tells us a special hydraulic rock hammer was used to break up the oversized boulder. Austin also says he appreciates the Hamilton County Sheriff's Department setting up lights allowing his crews to work overnights to clear the road.

7:50 pm update:

Eyewitness News has learned that a mudslide on Montlake Road will take at least three days to clear.

Hamilton County officials say heavy equipment will be brought on site to help remove rocks and debris.

Officials are asking driver to avoid the area, so emergency vehicles and equipment can have clear access.

UPDATE 12:15PM

HAMILTON COUNTY (WRCB) -- From the Hamilton County Sheriff's office:

The mudslide that occurred on Montlake road earlier this morning will take longer than anticipated to clear.  Due to the huge rocks and debris, special equipment will have to be brought in to do the rock removal.  At this time the projected time will be at least three days to clear the roadway.

9AM

HAMILTON COUNTY (WRCB) -- A mudslide has closed a main road on a Hamilton County mountain.

Crews closed Montlake Road to begin clean up on the slide. Part of the slide crashed into two vehicles. The Hamilton County Sheriff's department advises the road will be closed for at least 24 hours.

Check back with WRCBtv.com for more details on this developing story.