Heavy Rain and Rock Slide Close Interstate 40 Through Smoky Mountains
HARTFORD, Tenn. (AP) — A section of Interstate 40 in the Great Smoky Mountains is again closed due to heavy rain, flooding, and a rock slide that occurred Wednesday afternoon. The incident took place around mile marker 450, just west of the Tennessee-North Carolina state line, as reported by the Tennessee Department of Transportation (DOT).
Crews have been working to remove debris and water from the highway but have not yet provided an estimated reopening timeline. The affected area is part of a stretch of I-40 that faced severe damage during Hurricane Helene in late September, which resulted in 12 miles of road being washed away.
After emergency repairs allowed the opening of one lane in each direction in March, the recent weather has prompted additional complications. The initial repairs included the removal of a curb that was preventing vehicles trapped by the flooding and rockslide from turning around.
During the brief but intense rain event, between 2.5 to 3.5 inches fell within three hours, according to the National Weather Service. A permanent solution to stabilize the road will require significant work, including driving steel rods into bedrock and applying concrete to the cliff face, a process estimated to take years.
I-40, which stretches from Wilmington, North Carolina, to Barstow, California, offers limited detour options, with alternate routes through the Smokies adding significant mileage and challenges, particularly for trucks banned from navigating the narrow and twisty mountain roads. U.S. 441 through Great Smoky Mountains National Park also remains off-limits for truck traffic, compounding logistical difficulties in the region.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
