I40 repair after Helene

JanJ

I40 has been closed at Exit 20 (US276) Westbound in NC since Helene. At one time in early December it was posted that maybe 1 lane of I40 would open in early January, but we heard that twice other parts of roadway has collapsed into river in the gorge, delaying repairs.
As we live a few miles south of exit 20, where I40 is closed, we get to see trucks with gravel & such, going toward there daily.
We have used the mountain road west of us, in the Cherokee Nation (440), to get to I40 in Tennessee a few times. This adds about 2 hours to the trip, as long as there is no fog. The Nation used to close the road nightly, but opened it up since I40 closed. It’s either that, or go via US129: Deals Gap (319 turns in 11miles — a great motorcycle road, but…), or US74 south toward Atlanta to I40, then backtrack back north (way long!), or East to a partially repaired I26 in Asheville, then north to I81, then SW to I40 (also long)
Hopefully I40 Might be opened this summer, which was suggested last November…. ???
It’s been exciting.

Guy54435

JanJ I hope things get easier for you soon.

broknsymetry

Got stuck on I-40 years ago after a rock slide going to Knoxville from Asheville. I was stuck behind a pig truck for hours, stunk to high hog heaven. 🐷

JanJ

Latest I 40 WB closure at Exit 20, and also in Tennessee:

March 1 one lane in each direction, with maximum speed of 40MPH is hoped for, between exit 20 and Tennessee state line.
Tennessee also has a 1 lane restriction for a few miles where it collapsed there, too.

ALL THIS: Courtesy of Helene!

broknsymetry

That stretch has always been subject to rock slides.

JanJ

Local paper had article on the I40 repairs needed to be done AFTER the 2 lanes are opened up... West of Exit 20 in North Carolina and a few miles into Tennessee...

Apparently NCDOT has calculated the Amount of Rock that will be needed to shore up the roadway and collapsed area into the riverside to the point where a repair can be considered permanently fixed... and a further storm would not have this type of collapse occur again..... And the number of tons of rock they came up with is absolutely staggering...

Last November options for Any company to submit Any type of re-design for the roadway was opened up - No limits on anyone who submitted any suggestion... All were $$$$$

To save hauling fees, from the nearest rock quarry... to something 'closer'.... They are now considering using rock from an adjacent mountain top, if the rock is deemed strong enough... Decision in a month or so... I can just imagine what construction That would involve...

My Daughter, an engineering geologist, says the mountains here are very old Volcanic rocks.....

JanJ

Open... 1 lane in each direction, from Exit 20 westbound to about Mile 8 in Tennessee.....
I hear speed limit is 30 MPH