Rockslides has closed I-40 in both directions for a week in Haywood County NC at mile markers 7.5 and 20 near the TN/NC border. Check your travel plans and reroute accordingly. Rain has the ground saturated and rockslides are happening all over the place.441 through over the mountain is closed at this point too but it says till 3pm. New Found Gap road has been closed off and on all week long. Check before you try to take this way

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.

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

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

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-40 west of asheville closed | Good Sam Community

kyhawk
Explorer
Mar 29, 2019
We survived our trip to Maggie Valley with no problem. We were delayed about 15 minutes going east Friday about 3:00, and about 5 minutes going west Wednesday about 9:00. It may be worse on other days or different times.
ken56
Explorer
Mar 19, 2019
Still one lane in both directions. All traffic was shifted to the eastbound lanes so it could be slow at times. Are you towing a trailer and could you possible go through New Found Gap in the park? Its a task for an experienced mountain driver to tow over the gap so err on the side of caution.
kyhawk
Explorer
Mar 18, 2019
Are there any changes in the status of I-40? We have to travel from Knoxville to Maggie Valley soon (and back), and wonder if we need to expect a long delay.
ncscz
Explorer
Feb 28, 2019
NC DOT had a news conference today at noon. They will be opening 1 lane each direction as of 2PM today. Best estimate as of today is that 2 lanes in each direction will resume the 1st week of April.
Merrykalia
Explorer
Feb 26, 2019
CharlesinGA wrote:
Probably some spectacular waterfalls now though. NC is home to hundreds of waterfalls.

https://www.wncwaterfalls.info/

Charles

I live about 1 1/2 hrs away and you are right, there has been so much rain and flooding, but most of the pictures of waterfalls I've been seeing on our local news, the water is usually pretty muddy, but abundant
CharlesinGA
Explorer
Feb 26, 2019
Probably some spectacular waterfalls now though. NC is home to hundreds of waterfalls.

https://www.wncwaterfalls.info/

Charles
ken56
Explorer
Feb 26, 2019
What they clean up this week might not hold. The ground is saturated and rock slides are continuing to occur. Not necessarily on I-40 but the potential is there for more slides anywhere along the roads, including the road itself giving way. This is a very serious situation here and people need to heed the warnings. 4 more days of rain are predicted starting on Thursday. The ground can't hold much more water.
Merrykalia
Explorer
Feb 26, 2019
kohldad wrote:
I just read that I40 will be closed for 8 weeks.

Entire road closed for about 1 week while they do the initial cleanup and put the concrete dividers in place. They will also erect temp protection along the middle divider. Once this is coplete, then they will be able to open 1 lane in both directions. This will be in place for about 8 weeks (initial estimate) while they stabilize the area. Since all this was small size debris, the estimate is probably pretty close. However, one time they estimated 8 weeks and it took them 6 months before they had both lanes in both directions open.

I'm going through the area in about a week in a TC and think I'm just going to take the longer but easier route of I26 to I40 though I know a dozen ways across the mountains between I26 all the way down to Tail of the Dragon (Hwy 129).

You may know many ways across the mountains, but in the area, there are a long list of roads that are closed because of landslides. It's not just I-40, which has a long history of slides. I-26 to I-40 is open with no problems....at the moment. We are expecting more rain this coming week and then some freezing temps.
kohldad
Explorer III
Feb 25, 2019
I just read that I40 will be closed for 8 weeks.

Entire road closed for about 1 week while they do the initial cleanup and put the concrete dividers in place. They will also erect temp protection along the middle divider. Once this is coplete, then they will be able to open 1 lane in both directions. This will be in place for about 8 weeks (initial estimate) while they stabilize the area. Since all this was small size debris, the estimate is probably pretty close. However, one time they estimated 8 weeks and it took them 6 months before they had both lanes in both directions open.

I'm going through the area in about a week in a TC and think I'm just going to take the longer but easier route of I26 to I40 though I know a dozen ways across the mountains between I26 all the way down to Tail of the Dragon (Hwy 129).
ken56
Explorer
Feb 25, 2019
Not surprised. Things are so saturated here that it will be weeks before they know what has been undermined and is unstable. Keep an eye on the DOT sites for info.