Update on Helene Aftermath: What's Going on with I-40?

Dear Members,

Initially, I-40 was closed both eastbound and westbound coming into Asheville, North Carolina, and into eastern Kentucky. 

The North Carolina Department of Transportation offers some information on Helene detours on its website but cautions that communication problems caused by the storm mean it may not have information on some closures.

"​DANGEROUS CONDITIONS IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA," it warns. 

"There are shortages of water, food, gas, power and communications in western NC. Access is limited to local and hurricane response traffic. You cannot get from North Carolina to TN via I-40 or I-26. There may be closed roads not listed on DriveNC.gov as many areas are not able to report at this time."

As the Citizen Times reported, sections of Interstate 40 are still impassable and some areas are completely gone. On Tuesday, I-40 was reopened east of Asheville, but I-40 at mile marker 3 in Haywood County will remain closed indefinitely.

A Google Maps alert says that it will take until 2025 to reopen the section of I-40 at the North Carolina-Tennessee border is likely premature; officials haven't had a chance yet to evaluate the damage and determine what needs to be done. The repairs needed to I-40 will take "months" at a minimum, according to NCDOT.

John Pope, chairman of North Carolina-based Cargo Transporters, reported on his LinkedIn that "I-40 at the TN/NC state line, 'the gorge,' is estimated to be closed for as much as 12 months while the interstate is rebuilt. ....I know the NCDOT is working with the USDOT on additional resources to expedite this."

Regards,