North Carolina
I-40 is open between Tennessee and North Carolina. What drivers should know
Good news, travelers!
Interstate 40 is open once again at the Tennessee and North Carolina state line. The highway reopened June 27 following a rockslide and flood that overtook the road June 18.
Drivers can now cross the state’s border on I-40. For those planning to take the interstate through the mountains, here’s what you should know before you drive.
First, the interstate is not reopening to its full capacity. Interstate 40 is open with one lane in each direction ‒ the same conditions that were set in October after Hurricane Helene swept through the region in September.
Drivers should expect to travel at 40 miles per hour on the narrowed lanes through the mountain, according to Rutherford. Trucks and commercial vehicles will be allowed to pass through the corridor, but vehicles with oversized loads should seek an alternate route.
The lowered speed limit is due to infrastructure damage from Hurricane Helene, not the recent landslide. The two incidents were completely independent of one another.
Second, as you drive through the region, know that construction crews are working on the side of the road, continuing to rebuild the highway.
“This is an active construction zone,” said Drew Rutherford, a TDOT spokesperson. “Be aware that workers are present. Be cognizant that this is a work zone and exercise caution.”
Is I-40 open between Tennessee and North Carolina?
Yes, I-40 has reopened at the state line. Drivers can cross between Tennessee and North Carolina freely.
What caused the I-40 East closure between Tennessee and North Carolina?
There was a rockslide and flooding June 18, near mile marker 451 in Tennessee, according to TDOT. Since then, Interstate 40 has been closed beginning at mile marker 447 in Tennessee and Exit 20 in North Carolina, blocking travel between the two states.
The road closure in North Carolina was also due to the rockslide, causing an impass, according to the North Carolina Department of Transportation spokesperson Aaron Moody.
How long is Interstate 40 in Tennessee?
Tennessee has more miles of I-40 within its boundaries than any other state, according to TDOT. The highway stretches 455 miles in the Volunteer State. I-40 has a total of 2,554.22 miles across the United States in eight states.
Is I-40 the longest interstate?
While I-40 spans 2,554.22 miles from California to North Carolina, it is not the longest interstate in the country. I-40 is the country’s third-longest interstate, according to WorldAtlas.
I-40 is outranked only by Interstate 80 and Interstate 90.
Friends and family members gathered in Washington state on Saturday, remembering former Miss North Carolina Carrie Everett, who died on Easter Sunday. Another memorial service is planned in North Carolina next month.
Web Editor : Sydney Ross
Posted
Virginia 3, North Carolina 0 | First Quarter
Virginia 3, North Carolina 0 | Q1 8:19
After a faceoff win by Henry Metz, Brendan Millon finds Truitt Sunderland to give the Hoos a 3-0 lead. Timeout North Carolina.
Virginia 2, North Carolina 0 | Q1 9:00
Brendan Millon gets the scoring started for the Cavaliers with a question mark style goal. On the defensive end, Jake Marek opens the game with three early saves with his third save setting up a transition goal by Tommy Snyder.
Virginia vs North Carolina pregame notes
UVA owns a 59-33 advantage since the series began in 1938.
The 59 wins are UVA’s most against any opponent in program history (followed by 51 against Duke).
In Chapel Hill last year, the Tar Heels defeated the Cavaliers 18-9, snapping UVA’s six-game series win streak.
UVA has won nine of the last 11 meetings, dating back to 2018.
The Hoos have won the last two meetings with Carolina at Klöckner Stadium, 11-4 in 2022 and 14-6 in 2024.
The Tar Heels’ four goals in 2022 marked the fewest goals in a game under Joe Breschi, who was named UNC’s head coach in 2006.
The last time the Tar Heels knocked off the Cavaliers at Klöckner was a 16-13 decision during the first of three games between the two teams in 2021.
Later that year, UVA claimed back-to-back meetings against the Heels, including in the NCAA semifinals on the way to capturing the 2021 national title over Maryland.
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HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — Fire crews are responding to a brush fire near Howard Gap Road in Hendersonville on Friday evening.
The fire is across the street from the Ebenezer Baptist Church and near the Highlands Square Shopping Center.
Henderson County Fire Marshal Glen Gillette said crews are fighting “blowdown from Helene.”
NEW WILDFIRES IGNITE IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA FOREST AMID WORSENING DROUGHT
Around 11 p.m., the fire appears larger than it did an hour ago because crews are backburning, which refers to using fire to help control the wildfire.
Dana Fire Department Chief Jimmy Womack said that what was a 3-acre fire an hour ago will be an 8-acre fire due to back burning. He said the fire is 80% contained.
Womack said the cause of the fire is unknown, but one of the conditions contributing to the blaze is the Helene blowdown.
“There’s a lot of blowdown in these woods behind us. That’s what creates most of the problem,” said Womack.
Womack said there has been no property damage and no injuries have been reported for this fire in the woods that 24 personnel are fighting. They got the call to arrive at 6:05 p.m.
LOCAL NEWS
Dana Fire and Rescue and Henderson County Fire Department are supporting the U.S. Forest Service with this fire.
Glen said no structures are threatened at this time and Howard Gap Road is closed.
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This story will be updated as new information is discovered.
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