I-40 Now Open

The stretch of Interstate 40 in Western North Carolina that has been closed by a rockslide since October reopened at 6 p.m. on Sunday, April 25, 2010.

Work will continue in the area through the summer as crews complete stabilization efforts - including the installation of rock bolts and anchor mesh - at five additional sites. Both eastbound lanes will be open; however, one westbound lane will be closed for about three miles for this work.

Truck restrictions have been put in place for that stretch of I-40 westbound. The restrictions are:

Loads greater than 12 feet wide will be restricted from travel on the single westbound lane as long as work continues in the area. Wide loads traveling on I-40 West will continue to use the detour in place since the road was closed: take Exit 53B (I-240 West) in Asheville and follow I-240 West to Exit 4A (I-26 West). Follow I-26 West to I-81 South in Tennessee, back to I-40.

Traffic in the two eastbound lanes will adhere to normal weight/width restrictions.

Media can get footage of the I-40 rockslide site today at 3 p.m. NCDOT wants to ensure safety of the media and asks that you take this opportunity to get footage because you will not be able to once the road reopens. Check in with the sheriff’s deputy at the barricade for access from either the North Carolina or Tennessee side.

There will be a designated safe zone for photographers to get footage of the removal of the barricades at Exit 20. Tennessee media will be able to reach Exit 20 via I-40. There will not be anyone available for interviews at that time.

On Tuesday, April 27, at 10 a.m. NCDOT engineers and contractors, elected officials, community leaders and citizens will be at the N.C. Welcome Center for interviews and to discuss the process for the clean up and stabilization.

The Welcome Center is located on the eastbound side of I-40 at mile marker 10.5. It is 40 miles west of Asheville and 21 miles from Waynesville. From Asheville, follow I-40 West to Exit 7. Get back on I-40 East and look for the Welcome Center on your right. The Welcome Center phone number is 828-627-6206 or 828-627-1915.

For more information on the rockslide and/or the media events, please call (919) 218-2353, (919) 601-6946 or (919) 306-0291 today only. For more information, including videos and photos, please visit www.ncdot.gov/travel/I-40_rockslide or follow work on the rockslide project on Twitter at http://twitter.com/i40_rockslide.
 

For more information, please call Smoky Mountain Host at : 1-800-432-4678 or 1-828-369-9606.

Additional Resources:

• North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) at www.ncdot.gov.