Travel Advisory / I-40 Rock Slide
Interstate I-40 at the North Carolina / Tennessee border re-opened on Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 6:00pm.

Work will continue in the area through Labor Day as crews complete stabilization efforts – including the installation of rock bolts and anchor mesh – at five additional sites. Both eastbound lanes are open; one westbound lane will be closed for about three miles for this work. Westbound traffic on Interstate 40 in Haywood County may be delayed during peak travel times on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Crews expect to complete work on October 7, 2010.

North Carolina Department of Transportation will open four lanes to traffic for the Labor Day weekend. The westbound lane that is now closed will be opened at 5:00pm. on Thursday, September 2, 2010. It will remain open through the evening of Monday, September 6, 2010. After that, the westbound lane will be closed for 3.5 miles until work is complete at the two remaining sites.

Alternate Route:

• Take Exit 53B (I-240 West) in Asheville and follow I-240 West to Exit 4A (I-26 West). Follow I-26 West to I-81 South in Tennessee, back to I-40.

The rock slide area on Interstate 40 is near the North Carolina / Tennessee border in Haywood County, North Carolina. The road was closed in both the eastbound and westbound lanes from October 25, 2009 to April 25, 2010. N.C. Department of Transportation crews blasted the huge boulders, stabilizing the area, and hauling away about 6,000 tons of debris.The rockslide detoured motorists traveling between Knoxville and Asheville to I-81 and I-26, adding an hour to the drive.

Check the NC Department of Transportation web site for updates www.ncdot.gov or call 511.