Rock Slides and Flooding Cause Another Setback for I-40 Near the Tennessee/North Carolina Border
The section of I-40 near the Tennessee/North Carolina border suffered another setback as the recent rainfalls in the area caused several rock slides and flooding, resulting in another washout of the major transportation route previously impacted from the collapse of that same stretch from Helene’s wrath last September.
This recent one occurred during the late afternoon hours of Wednesday, June 18 at Exit 451 in Tennessee. Although not as devastating as the washout of the interstate last year, the flooding and rock slides overtopped the highway and pushed concrete barriers into the river.
Tributaries flowing down from the slope above the interstate turned into raging waterfalls and mud slicks. Culverts under the interstate lead to the river, but the volume was too powerful and water fiercely washed onto the interstate flowing to the river on the other side.
Traffic came to a halt on both sides and some vehicles ended up partially submerged. Drivers were forced to abandon their vehicles, but thankfully there were no reports of injuries or people missing from the mishap.
The interstate is closed at Exit 20 on the North Carolina side, and no definitive timetable has been announced for its re-opening—only an initial “estimate” of at least 2 weeks. It was already reduced to one lane in each direction, but fortunately no further damage was sustained to the Pigeon Gorge in Haywood County that collapsed during Helene—it remains intact.
What remains a question is whether there is underlying damage to this recent event’s section of the interstate. Crews will definitely diligently be assessing the damage and hopefully take great care in making sure it’s safe for vehicles in due time.
It’s also unclear how this will ultimately affect visitation to Gatlinburg and its surrounding areas. Unfortunately, detours will likely add at least another hour to your drive if you're visiting from the Virginias and the Carolinas especially. All points due north and south shouldn’t have your travel time impacted; however, a large portion of our tourism will certainly need to find alternate routes. All we can hope for is the best. Safety is the number one priority, so it’s the important thing that should be on everyone’s mind, whether it’s the crews working on repairs, the people who rely on this route, and those who use it for their trip.
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