I-40 west of asheville closed

I just read that I40 will be closed for 8 weeks.

The Pigeon River gorge is a very pretty drive. I remember years back a mother and her young son were killed by a bolder falling onto the roadway and crushed the car. Tragic.

441 over the mtn is still close today, 2/24, too till 8pm it says.

Wasn't there a rockslide that closed it before like within past 5 years or so?

There have been a number of closings since it opened. The design engineers fought the route as they knew of some of the challenges to begin with but the politicians won. Only during the consruction did the engineers realize it was much worse than they thought and have had to come up with new ways to stabilize the ground. If the engineers knew then what they know now, they would have refused to allow the road to go through the area as too risky, not maintainable.

It was the number of rock slides in the gorge that made the extension of I26 to I40 a much higher priority so there is a "reasonable" alternate interstate route when they have to close it.

Wasn't there a rockslide that closed it before like within past 5 years or so?

Below are some alternate routes that are suitable for different size rigs.
With all the changing conditions and rain still in the forecast, check individual routes before taking one.

Recommend alternate for large rigs is I26 to I81 then back south to I40.

Medium size rigs can take 25 through Hot Springs over to Newport.

Smaller rigs can take twisty 209 to Hot Springs to 25 to Newport.

All rigs can go through Cherokee up and over the mountain on 441. Be warned this is a steep winding road up then back down, but does provide some nice views though is the slower of them all.

The truely adventurous, under 5 ton vehicles can take the road towards Cataloochee but when the road turns to pavement to the left, go straight on the gravel road. Just stay on it and it will eventually come out to I40 at Waterville exit on I40. This is 16 miles of single lane gravel roads and will take almost an hour so not the fastest by any means.

I would think there will be more to come. You know it has only rained 2 times in NC this winter...… Once for 35 days, and once for 40 days. :R:S

I see I-40 is close from Wilton Springs rd. just south of Newport TN all the way to Waynesville NC.

Thanks for the post. We may go that way in about a month, so I hope they get I-40 back open by then.

I had planned to post this. I'm glad to see that you got it posted. Sorry to say it's not an unusual occurence.