Travel Advisory / I-40 Rock Slide / Update 2-5-12
Interstate 40 westbound at the North Carolina / Tennessee state line reopened to traffic on
Sunday, February 5, 2012.

I-40 West Reopens to Traffic in NC & TN

Interstate 40 West reopened to traffic on Sunday, February 5, 2012. Only one westbound lane is open on the Tennessee side. Traffic should flow normally on I-40 West through Western North Carolina.

The second phase of the rock slide cleanup in Cocke County, Tennessee is expected to begin in March. This phase will involve more extensive work to further stabilize the remaining slope above the roadway. One lane of traffic will remain open through the slide area until work begins. TDOT will try to keep one lane of traffic throughout the stabilization process.

Officials suggest drivers stay alert and use caution traveling through the area.

A section of Interstate 40 near the North Carolina/Tennessee border was closed in the westbound lanes near US 276, Exit 20, west of Asheville, North Carolina, near the Tennessee state line in Cocke County, Tennessee. The rock slide happened around 1:00 a.m. on January 31, 2012, near Exit 451. East bound traffic was unaffected by the rock slide.

Another rockslide occurred in North Carolina at Mile Marker 7 on I-40 West near the Tennessee border around noon on Friday, February 3, 2012. East bound traffic was unaffected by the rock slie. The interstate was closed westbound at Exit 20 in North Carolina while crews removed the debris.

Check the Tennessee Department of Transportation web site www2.tdot.state.tn.us/tsw/smartmap.htm or the North Carolina DOT www.ncdot.gov for map of the slide area or call 511 for updates.