Rockslide May Shut Interstate for Months

[JeffsSig]

This may not be known to those who might need to know.

A rockslide in western North Carolina near the Tennessee state line has closed Interstate 40, and officials say it could take several months to clear the debris.

Rockslide on Tennesee-North Carolina Border May Close Interstate 40 for Months

[Volzfan]

I'm glad that I don't have to travel that direction regularly.

[TripleDigitRide]

That's what heck of a detour. Persoanlly, I think I'd rather try Dixie Hwy-25/70 into Newport, TN. Not an Interstate, but that has to be shorter than the detour they've suggested.

[VERO1]

I just came home from Asheville to Jefferson City. We decided to take the "scenic route" through Cherokee-Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge etc. Only took 6 hours! Prime leaf season on the weekend. I would definitely advise another route if you are in any sort of rush. We did see a bunch of elk in a field and some really oustanding views though.

[R1100R]

Thanks, that is the way I come home on leave from SC. Looks like I am

going through Atlanta.

[dralarms]

Been there done that, last time the road was closed I had to go visit my family (don't remember why). It's almost as short to go I81 to Johnson city, and take I26 all the way to Ashville. It's all interstate. The last time I26 was not finished and I actually took 81 all the way to VA and then shot back down what was another interstate but can't remember the number.

I'm glad of 2 things, 1 i'm on this side of the slide, and 2 I don't have plans to go that way for a while.

[Guest cjr]

The detour sounds like it is just looping around Asheville,depending on traffic I dont think its more than 30 minutes.

[TNTitan]

The detour sounds like it is just looping around Asheville,depending on traffic I dont think its more than 30 minutes.

30 minutes? you must drive FAST cause TDOT is saying the detour is 140 miles.

Both sides of I-40 have been closed, and DOT has recommended a nearly 140 mile detour.

• Westbound travelers should get off I-40 at exit 53B onto Interstate 240 West in Asheville. From I-240 West, take exit 4 A onto Interstate 26 West. Follow I-26 West into Virginia. Then, get onto Interstate 81 South, which connects to I-40 West at mile marker 421.
  
• Eastbound travelers should exit from I-40 onto I-81 North in Virginia. Take I-81 North, to I-26 East into Asheville. Then, transfer onto I-240 East, which connects to I-40 East. LINK
  

[DuallyNewt]

You should see the extra traffic in J.C. UNREAL

[USMCJG]

30 minutes? you must drive FAST cause TDOT is saying the detour is 140 miles.

I-40 to I-240 to I-26 to I-81, isn't really too far out of the way. You're still making westward progress most of the time, except for the hour+ you are going basically due north on I-26 to I-81. But it sure ain't no 30 minute detour. I'd say it's about a 1-1.5 hour longer trip for sure. But with the extra traffic load on I-26 and I-81 maybe even more.

[Guest cjr]

30 minutes? you must drive FAST cause TDOT is saying the detour is 140 miles.

I didnt catch the 26 to 81 part.I thought it was looping around Asheville.

If it is takin you all the way up 26 to 81 then everyone should get off in Elizabethton and check out Tri City Gun Depot.It will make the detour well worth the time.

[USMCJG]

I didnt catch the 26 to 81 part.I thought it was looping around Asheville.

If it is takin you all the way up 26 to 81 then everyone should get off in Elizabethton and check out Tri City Gun Depot.It will make the detour well worth the time.

I keep wanting to check out the Gun Depot, but I'm broke. When I get some money I'm definitely going to check them out though.

[Rightwinger]

That's what heck of a detour. Persoanlly, I think I'd rather try Dixie Hwy-25/70 into Newport, TN. Not an Interstate, but that has to be shorter than the detour they've suggested.

My company runs 11 shuttle runs between Fletcher, SC and Mt. Juliet every afternoon/night. We looked at the 25/70 route through Newport and they have restricted it to 53 footers now (since last big slide apparently). This has forced us to do multi shuttles as we can't run legal over and back now. This is killing us. Now we have to have equipment to run to Cookeville every night and meet the shuttle drivers to swap out trailers and bring it the rest of the way in.

With cold weather coming in, this could be an ugly few months waiting for this to clear!

[R1100R]

I am making the run from Columbia, SC. Going through Atlanta is only 30 miles more but the time is the same. It's just getting through Atlanta. I started looking at this route due to the winter months.

I live in Mt. Juliet/Gladeville.

Rightwinger your company might want to take a look at running down 85 to Atlanta and headed up from there.

[Guest Muttling]

Bunch of young pups!!!!!

I remember the "good old days" when these slides shut that road down almost every winter. In the late '80s, they installed rock bolts, rock fences, and horizontal weep wells to cut down on the slides so it has become a rare thing.

This is what you get when you cut a slice out of the side of a mountain to make room for a roadway (which is what they did to build that road.)

[Rightwinger]

I am making the run from Columbia, SC. Going through Atlanta is only 30 miles more but the time is the same. It's just getting through Atlanta. I started looking at this route due to the winter months.

I live in Mt. Juliet/Gladeville.

Rightwinger your company might want to take a look at running down 85 to Atlanta and headed up from there.

Still to long hours wise to run legal. We looked. :-\

[56FordGuy]

Still to long hours wise to run legal. We looked. :-\

Team drivers?

[Guest bang-flash]

Heres a link to some pics WCNC.com | Slide Show

[Rightwinger]

Team drivers?

Nope, we run day cabs. Don't have enough drivers to run team anyway. We run routes out of Fletcher all over NC and SC as far east as Charleston. The route guys come back and the shuttle drivers hop in and bring it all to Mt. Juliet then take the returnables back. When shuttle guy gets back, the Rt. guy is either there or not long from going right back out. Trucks only earn money when they are running.....we run them! This is all on the other side of the house to me. I route for the Chrysler stuff and I don't have anything in the Carolina's, another Logistics company does that out of Spartanburg. Needless to say, we have used up a lot of the temp driver services in middle TN for the week.

[Guest cjr]

Do they break the large boulders into smaller boulders and drop them down the side of the mountain.

I wonder if it would be easier to add a lane on the East bound side and close a lane on the West bound side.