ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — A key stretch of Interstate 40 near the North Carolina-Tennessee border could reopen as early as noon Friday, according to a Tennessee lawmaker, though state officials are still targeting July 3 for a full reopening.
Tennessee Rep. Jeremy Faison said Thursday there is a “strong chance” that I-40 will reopen to traffic in one lane in each direction ahead of the busy travel weekend. In a Facebook post, Faison credited TDOT and contractors Blalock and Jones Construction for their expedited work following mudslides and flooding that shut down the highway.
“I-40 through the gorge needs a lot of work, but for purposes of this weekend, it will be back open one lane in each direction,” Faison wrote.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation, however, has not officially changed its reopening timeline. The agency continues to list July 3 as its goal for fully reopening the highway, which has been closed since early June.
The damage occurred on the Tennessee side of the border, where heavy rain triggered rockslides and mudflows that blocked the interstate and compromised its safety.
Currently, I-40 West remains closed between Exit 20 and the Tennessee state line. Traffic is being rerouted via a lengthy detour through I-26 and I-81, which adds significant travel time for motorists heading west.
NCDOT urges travelers to avoid U.S. 441 through Great Smoky Mountains National Park, where large commercial vehicles are prohibited.
Please check the TDOT and NCDOT websites before heading out.