I-40 in North Carolina

[Chris]

Here's some b-roll recorded by NCDOT. It shows that I-40 has also eroded near the tunnel (mile 4)

[CtrlAltDel]

The mudslide appears to be here, right by a truck information station, which apparently consists of a sign that they want the truckers to stop and read before their descent. It apparently also meters traffic. I don't recall seeing anything like that before.

[wriddle082]

The mudslide appears to be here, right by a truck information station, which apparently consists of a sign that they want the truckers to stop and read before their descent. It apparently also meters traffic. I don't recall seeing anything like that before.

They are common in the east at the crest of long mountain descents.  I-26 has one on both sides of the road at Sam's Gap at the NC/TN state line.  I-24 eastbound has a large such area on top of Monteagle Mountain.  I believe there is one on I-64 eastbound in WV before the long down grade east of Beckley.  There are others on non-freeways in other areas as well, especially in PA.

[wdcrft63]

According to WRAL, NCDOT has cleared the mudslide at Old Fort and opened I-40 eastbound for folks who want to leave the Asheville area in that direction. Westbound traffic is restricted to official vehicles and others helping address the crisis.

[thenetwork]

Tennessee and North Carolina authorities are informing people that the Google Maps estimate of both I-40 and I-26 reopening in 2025 should be taken as a grain of salt:

https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/2024/10/02/google-maps-interstate-40-tennessee-north-carolina-border-reopening-date/75481000007/

[PColumbus73]

Could some portions be patched enough to allow two lanes of travel on I-26 & 40? Can falseworks be put in place in areas where they need complete reconstruction?

[ARMOURERERIC]

Should TN Dot restore the left exit to US 70 from I 40

[Strider]

Could some portions be patched enough to allow two lanes of travel on I-26 & 40? Can falseworks be put in place in areas where they need complete reconstruction?

Nothing has been set in a stone yet from NCDOT. They have not announced. Based on the videos and photos, they might have to do complete reconstruction for some areas of I-40 in NC (I don't know about I-26 in Tennessee) since the whole thing will be closed until 2025. They also have to recheck the other areas on I-40 for potential cracks or something like that and fix it.

Until NCDOT finishes their inspection, I don't know what their true plans for that area of I-40 for now.

[vdeane]

since the whole thing will be closed until 2025

Take Google's "closed until" with a grain of salt.  When roads get destroyed, they have to put SOMETHING in because their system registers a closure without a reopening time as a temporary event caused by an incident and still routes on them in certain circumstances, so they have to make something up in order to get driving directions to work correctly.

[Strider]

since the whole thing will be closed until 2025

Take Google's "closed until" with a grain of salt.  When roads get destroyed, they have to put SOMETHING in because their system registers a closure without a reopening time as a temporary event caused by an incident and still routes on them in certain circumstances, so they have to make something up in order to get driving directions to work correctly.

I'm merely saying 2025 to be safe, just like what Google said. It is better than saying the exact date. Knowing NCDOT, they will get I-40 open in no time as it is the #1 priority along with I-26, US and NC routes in that area to be cleaned up and fixed.

[Rothman]

Should TN Dot restore the left exit to US 70 from I 40

Wrong thread.

[RoadMaster09]

The section at MM 3 where the eastbound lanes got washed into the river will likely need massive work to get 4 lanes back open. I think they could get 2 lanes open there in the interim after checking it over, but that will be very long term. I can't see how they could put I-40 back where it is without a viaduct or bridge, since the entire embankment was eroded and washed into the Pigeon River. The alternative option would be to go the other way, blast two new lanes into the mountain (tunnel or significant rock cuts) and use the pre-Helene westbound lanes as the new eastbound lanes.

[RoadWarrior56]

Is the I-26 damage north of Asheville as severe as what has happened to I-40?  Since that section of I-40 near the TN line has had numerous closures over the years, the default "detour" route for I-40 closures from the west has been I-26 to I-81.

[74/171FAN]

Is the I-26 damage north of Asheville as severe as what has happened to I-40?  Since that section of I-40 near the TN line has had numerous closures over the years, the default "detour" route for I-40 closures from the west has been I-26 to I-81.

Simple answer,  yes in TN.  https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?msg=2944626

[PColumbus73]

I saw that some of the bridges on I-26 were destroyed, I can't tell for sure, but some of the images looked to be near Exit 40, maybe Exit 43. I don't think I've seen anything regarding landslides on I-26, assuming it's just the bridges that are destroyed, I-26 might be able to be repaired faster than I-40.

In the long term, I-40 might need a new alignment. I don't know the full history, but from what I understand, slides have been a problem on I-40 for a long time.

[bwana39]

As to I-26 was it a bridge or a berm /dump that washed out?

[RoadWarrior56]

It sounds like that both Interstates will be closed for some time, months to up to a year.  But it does appear that I-26 will be likely be reopened before I-40.  I figure that after that point, sections of I-26 and I-81 will be designated as "Temporary" or "Detour" I-40, just to patch the discontinuity in a transcontinental Interstate highway.

If I-40 has to be relocated or tunneled, or even if  a viaduct is built over the east side of the river to replace the lost roadbed, it could be several years before I-40 is reopened in that area.  In the near term, there are not other good alternatives to either I-40 or I-26 north and west of Asheville.

[Mapmikey]

US 25-70 is not that bad for car traffic...

[RoadWarrior56]

I can't see that roadway working as an official detour for Interstate-level traffic with heavy truck volumes, although it would likely end up carrying higher volumes than normal, especially as local traffic uses it.  BTW, was US 25/70 also damaged from the storm?

I figure the immediate "official" detour will be I-77 to I-81 while I-26 is closed, which would include the SW corner of Virgina on the route.

[PColumbus73]

I can't see that roadway working as an official detour for Interstate-level traffic with heavy truck volumes, although it would likely end up carrying higher volumes than normal, especially as local traffic uses it.  BTW, was US 25/70 also damaged from the storm?

I figure the immediate "official" detour will be I-77 to I-81 while I-26 is closed, which would include the SW corner of Virgina on the route.

I would agree. For I-40, and I-26, I-77 & 81 would be the least out of the way.

Atlanta and Wytheville might be dealing with the worst of any detour congestion.

[Thing 342]

Looks like we already have trucks attempting to use Tail of the Dragon and Newfound Gap Rd:

https://autos.yahoo.com/semi-truck-bottoms-tail-dragon-183000662.html

https://x.com/GreatSmokyNPS/status/1841487259024921021

[Hunty2022]

Tennessee and North Carolina authorities are informing people that the Google Maps estimate of both I-40 and I-26 reopening in 2025 should be taken as a grain of salt:

https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/2024/10/02/google-maps-interstate-40-tennessee-north-carolina-border-reopening-date/75481000007/

Google Maps now says I-40 between TN and US 276 will reopen in 2028.

[Thing 342]

I expect a full rebuild of much of that stretch, using either a viaduct like I-70 Glenwood Canyon or a reinforced embankment like US-22 Juniata (https://maps.app.goo.gl/9DKHSW2fUshJgENS8). Probably at least a 3-4 year project.

[vdeane]

Tennessee and North Carolina authorities are informing people that the Google Maps estimate of both I-40 and I-26 reopening in 2025 should be taken as a grain of salt:

https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/2024/10/02/google-maps-interstate-40-tennessee-north-carolina-border-reopening-date/75481000007/

Google Maps now says I-40 between TN and US 276 will reopen in 2028.

IMO that is much more realistic.

[Chris]

In Switzerland, A13 suffered a catastrophic washout this summer, as a flash flood caused the river to move its riverbed into the four lane highway.




They managed to have it open with 2 lanes within 13 days and a final repair with four lanes was open after 2.5 months.







I don't want to imply that restoring I-40 can be done equally fast, but maybe it doesn't need to take until 2028.