I-40 near NC-Tennessee line to reopen Saturday with unusual conditions, NCDOT says

Interstate 40 will reopen Saturday in western North Carolina with some exceptions.

On Thursday, a North Carolina Department of Transportation spokesperson discussed this weekend’s I-40 reopening with one lane in each direction near the North Carolina-Tennessee state line.

“We are happy to have this open for the people who depend on a connected transportation system between North Carolina and Tennessee,” said Wanda Payne, an engineer with NDOT. “This opening improves the flow of people, goods and services between our two states and between locations far beyond Haywood County.”

Portions of the road were swallowed into the Pigeon River in late September 2024 when Hurricane Helene ripped through the Southeast, causing devastating flooding in the North Carolina mountains and nearly wiping some communities off the map.

In February, North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein announced I-40 would partially reopen by March 1.

According to NCDOT, Helene washed away 3 million cubic yards of dirt, rock and material from the side of I-40. The interstate has been closed since late September 2024.

NCDOT, Wright Brothers and GeoStablization International began fixing the road. This included driving steel rods into bedrock, filling the rods with grout, applying a metal screen, and spraying concrete on the face of the walls.

Crews installed nearly 90,000 square feet of soil-nail walls at 10 different locations of the interstate. They also drilled nearly 2,100 feet of nails and fortified four miles of the shoulder for truck traffic.

NCDOT said the one-lane stretch will extend around approximately 12 miles from Cold Springs Creek Road in North Carolina to Big Creek Road in Tennessee. They are anticipating delays due to the unique conditions, especially during the weekends and holiday weekends.

NCDOT gave WRAL News a list of the other conditions drivers can expect in the area:

• Narrow lanes with reduced shoulders
• A reduced speed limit of 35 mph
• A 9-inch-by-9-inch concrete curb separating traffic.
• Periodic breaks to provide EMS access.
• Standard 18-wheeler tractor-trailers are allowed, but no wide loads. Wide loads must utilize I-77 and I-81 to travel between the two states.
• 18-wheelers should note that while they will be allowed to travel on I-40 through the gorge, there is no alternate routes available beyond Exit 20.