SMITHVILLE, Tenn. -- Work is scheduled to begin next week on the leaky Center Hill Dam.

The Army Corps of Engineers will be blasting at the left rim portion of the structure.

In January 2007, the structure was deemed "high risk" and in danger of a "catastrophic failure."

Repairs to the leaky dam are expected to take seven years to finish.

The blasting could require occasional road closures along Highways 141 and 96.