(The Center Square) – Interstate 40 in western North Carolina, the 20 miles in both directions nearest the Tennessee border, remains closed from flooding and a rockslide.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation and the Tennessee Department of Transportation have each advised detour routes on respective sides of the closure. Rain earlier this week and a rockslide on Wednesday east of Waterville Road in Cocke County on the Tennessee side have forced detours projected for two weeks.
That puts travel on, before or just after July 4 in jeopardy.
Large commercial vehicles are prohibited in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, including on U.S. 441.
Traffic from North Carolina to Tennessee are using I-240 West, I-26 West and I-81 South on one detour route; U.S. 52, I-74, I-77 and I-81 from points east of Winston-Salem; and I-77 and I-81 on a third route originating between Winston-Salem and Statesville.
Traffic from Tennessee to North Carolina is using I-81 and either I-26 or I-77.
Detour routes are similar to last fall when Hurricane Helene closed the same stretch of interstate.