I-40 Closed

JOHNKIES · #1 10-26-2009, 03:24 PM

Just a word to traveling anglers, I-40 is closed a few miles east of the Tennessee state line. There was a massive rock slide and some early news reports said there are boulders the size of houses on the road. They have established a detour, but advise motorists to find alternative routes. Some estimates for full restoration are for months of work, likely going into 2010.

Just a heads-up. --JCK--

Rodn276 · #2 10-26-2009, 04:09 PM

Looks like a mess

phg · #3 10-26-2009, 04:18 PM

Of all the thousands of miles I've driven on the interstates, that's the only stretch that gives me the creeps. I always breath a sigh of relief when I get out of there. Darned inconvenient for those of you who live over that way....

ts3593474 · #4 10-26-2009, 04:42 PM

I agree, grew up around there and I loathe that stretch of road. Seems like every couple of years this kind of thing happens.

stuartr · #5 10-26-2009, 05:20 PM

Is that the Tenn/VA line? Looks like a real mess.

STU

WhiteH2OPdlr · #6 10-26-2009, 05:39 PM

You can go through Hot Springs (the original planned route of I-40 and the much more feasible one) into Newport TN. It's narrow, and I'm sure 25/70 will have more traffic on it, but on a good day with no buses or grandpa's, it's the same drive time as 40.

Another, and I won't go into details, would be to take the 276 exit off 40 and utilizing some forest service roads and going looking for brookies and elk, pop out over at Big Creek. Not a bad detour for a fly fisherman. Easy to spot on a Gazateer, and certainly faster than going up Future 26 to 81.

Interesting opinions on the 40 routing:

Quote:

This portion of the highway is, also, notorious for rockslides and rocks falling onto the highway. The main cause is an engineering flaw, in that sections of the highway have been built on the north side of the Pigeon River, where the rock strata foliate towards the highway.

Quote:

"Seriously though, this rockslide is just the latest chapter in the ongoing saga of the Pigeon River Gorge screw-up. This all started back in the 1960s, if not earlier. The highway engineers stated that the best route for the proposed I-40 was through the French Broad River Gorge, not the Pigeon River Gorge. However, big money (especially tourism interests in both North Carolina and Tennesse) bought off the right politicians in both North Carolina and Tennessee and got this borderline disaster built through the Pigeon River Gorge. Special interests just had to get this road closer to Gatlinburg and Cherokee. It is probably going to cost ten times the construction cost just to maintain it. What a legacy to leave future generations. Big money plus corrupt politicians equals a great big screw-up with no end in sight."

"The citizens of NC keep paying for Gov. Dan Moore paying off Haywood County by routing I-40 through the Gorge to bring more money to the county. If the original route had been followed up through western Madison Co. we would not have to rebuild the slopes every few years and will continue to do so as they are angled in such a way that it is impossible to stabilize them. The Madison Co. Route would have also negated the need for I-26 through the County. Politicians play, taxpayers pay, S.O.S."

ScoutHikerDad · #7 10-26-2009, 06:45 PM

You mean those fences and bolts didn't hold those little rocks in place?

Seriously, I agree that I-40 gives me the willies, and not just for the deadly fog or the potential to get squashed like a grape! The truckers going through there on those tight curves can be downright homicidal! I've been run right off the "No Trucks" lane by truckers I KNOW saw me!

No offense if you're a responsible trucker and not the bullying-type.

I remember when I-40 was closed down completely for months during the height of tourist season, and just a few years ago, no? What a giant headache for those of you who must travel that way. Be safe.

stuartr · #8 10-26-2009, 07:15 PM

I didn't mean the state line. Stupid. I meant where is this from where 81 and 40 meet?

STU

ts3593474 · #9 10-26-2009, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stuartr

I didn't mean the state line. Stupid. I meant where is this from where 81 and 40 meet?

STU

It's right across the TN/NC line, on the NC side at mile marker 2 or so.

Neusewader · #10 10-26-2009, 10:15 PM

I-81 and I-40 intersect close to Dandridge, TN. The slide is at Waterville, NC (basically). Dandridge is (was) about 30 miles further on I-40 from Waterville.