I-40 in North Carolina Reopens
Monday, April 26, 2010 | 05:40am
From the North Carolina DOT:
RALEIGH — The stretch of Interstate 40 in Western North Carolina that has been closed by a rockslide since October reopened Sunday, April 25 at 6 p.m.
RALEIGH — The stretch of Interstate 40 in Western North Carolina that has been closed by a rockslide since October reopened Sunday, April 25 at 6 p.m.
Work will continue in the area through the summer as crews complete stabilization efforts – including the installation of rock bolts and anchor mesh – at five additional sites. Both eastbound lanes will be open; however, one westbound lane will be closed for about three miles for this work.
Truck restrictions have been put in place for that stretch of I-40 westbound. The restrictions are:
- Loads greater than 12 feet wide will be restricted from travel on the single westbound lane as long as work continues in the area. Wide loads traveling on I-40 West will continue to use the detour in place since the road was closed: take Exit 53B (I-240 West) in Asheville and follow I-240 West to Exit 4A (I-26 West). Follow I-26 West to I-81 South in Tennessee, back to I-40.
- Traffic in the two eastbound lanes will adhere to normal weight/width restrictions.
On Tuesday, April 27, at 10 a.m. NCDOT engineers and contractors, elected officials, community leaders and citizens will be at the N.C. Welcome Center for interviews and to discuss the process for the clean up and stabilization.
The Welcome Center is located on the eastbound side of I-40 at mile marker 10.5. It is 40 miles west of Asheville and 21 miles from Waynesville. From Asheville, follow I-40 West to Exit 7. Get back on I-40 East and look for the Welcome Center on your right. The Welcome Center phone number is 828-627-6206 or 828-627-1915.
For more information on the rockslide and/or the media events, please call (919) 218-2353, (919) 601-6946 or (919) 306-0291 today only. For more information, including videos and photos, please visit www.ncdot.gov/travel/I-40_rockslide or follow work on the rockslide project on Twitter at http://twitter.com/i40_rockslide.
***NCDOT***